The New York State Senate

                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  2692

                       2019-2020 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 25, 2019
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  BENEDETTO  --  read once and referred to the
  Committee on Health

AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to prohibiting  chil-
  dren twelve years old and younger from playing tackle football

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "John Mack-
ey youth football protection act".
  § 2. Article 25 of the public health law is amended by  adding  a  new
title 7 to read as follows:
                                TITLE VII
                              YOUTH SPORTS
SECTION 2595. PROHIBITION OF TACKLE FOOTBALL.
  §  2595.  PROHIBITION OF TACKLE FOOTBALL. 1. NO CHILD TWELVE YEARS OLD
OR YOUNGER SHALL PLAY, PRACTICE, OR OTHERWISE ENGAGE IN ORGANIZED TACKLE
FOOTBALL; PROVIDED HOWEVER,  THAT  NOTHING  WITHIN  THIS  SECTION  SHALL
PROHIBIT CHILDREN TWELVE YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER FROM PLAYING, PRACTICING,
OR  OTHERWISE  PARTICIPATING  IN  ANY  FORM  OF  FOOTBALL WHICH DOES NOT
INVOLVE TACKLING.
  2. ANY SCHOOL, LEAGUE OR OTHER ENTITY WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO ALLOW  CHIL-
DREN TO PARTICIPATE IN FOOTBALL, WHO ALLOWS CHILDREN TWELVE YEARS OLD OR
YOUNGER  TO PLAY, PRACTICE, OR OTHERWISE ENGAGE IN TACKLE FOOTBALL SHALL
BE LIABLE FOR A CIVIL PENALTY UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE TWO OF ARTI-
CLE ONE OF THIS CHAPTER.
  3. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
  (A) "ORGANIZED TACKLE FOOTBALL" SHALL INCLUDE ANY  PRACTICE,  GAME  OR
OTHER  ACTIVITY  WHICH INVOLVES ENGAGING IN TACKLE FOOTBALL AND WHICH IS
ORGANIZED BY A SCHOOL, OR PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LEAGUE OR OTHER ENTITY WHOSE
PURPOSE IS TO ALLOW CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN CONTACT FOOTBALL.
  (B) "TACKLE" SHALL MEAN TO PHYSICALLY IMPEDE THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF A
PLAYER WHO IS IN POSSESSION OF THE BALL TO THE EXTENT THAT:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                           LBD01531-01-9

A. 2692                             2

  (I) THE PLAYER'S FORWARD MOVEMENT IS STOPPED AND THE PLAYER IS  UNABLE
TO RESUME SUCH FORWARD MOVEMENT; OR
  (II) THE PLAYER IS FORCED TO TOUCH SOME PART OF HIS OR HER BODY TO THE
GROUND OTHER THAN THE PLAYER'S HANDS OR FEET.
  § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.