Amended  IN  Assembly  April 21, 2021
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 11, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1348

Introduced by Assembly Member McCarty

February 19, 2021

An act to add and repeal Section 124244 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to youth athletics.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1348, as amended, McCarty. Youth athletics: chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Under the California Youth Football Act, a youth sports organization, as defined, that conducts a tackle football program must comply with certain requirements, including, among other things, having a licensed medical professional, which may include a state-licensed emergency medical technician, paramedic, or higher-level licensed medical professional, present during games.
This bill would require the Surgeon General to convene a Commission on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Youth Football to investigate issues related to the risks of brain injury associated with participation in youth football, and to provide recommendations to the Governor and Legislature on strategies to reduce this risk, including the minimum appropriate age for participation in youth tackle football. The bill would require the Surgeon General to publish a report on their internet website on or before July 1, 2023, with the findings of the commission.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head traumas. disease.
(b) CTE has been is suspected to be linked to participation in contact sports such as boxing and football.

(c)Research shows that the risk of CTE increases with the number of years of football played.

(d)

(c) CTE can cause mood and behavioral symptoms, including impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and paranoia.

(e)

(d) CTE can result in impaired cognitive function, including memory loss, impaired judgment, and progressive dementia.

SEC. 2.

 Section 124244 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

124244.
 (a) As used in this section, “commission” means the Commission on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Youth Football established pursuant to this section.
(b) The Surgeon General shall convene a Commission on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Youth Football to investigate issues related to the risks of brain injury associated with participation in youth football, and to provide recommendations to the Governor and Legislature on strategies to reduce this risk, including the minimum appropriate age for participation in youth tackle football.
(c) The commission shall be led by the Surgeon General and consist of members selected by the Surgeon General, and shall include, but not be limited to, members with expertise in public health, neuroscience, neurology, or other relevant fields.
(d) The commission shall review, investigate, and analyze issues relating to the risk of brain injury associated with participation in youth football, including:
(1) The risk of concussion, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), or other brain injury from participation in youth tackle football.
(2) The short and long-term health consequences of concussion, CTE, or other brain injury in youth.
(3) How the risks and health consequences described in paragraphs (1) and (2) vary with the age of the youth tackle football participant.
(e) On or before July 1, 2023, the Surgeon General shall publish a report on their internet website on the findings of the commission, including recommendations on the following issues:
(1) The appropriate minimum age for participation in youth tackle football.
(2) Best practices for minimizing the risk of concussion, CTE, or other brain injury in youth football, including youth tackle football.
(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2024, and as of that date is repealed.