The New York State Senate

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5530
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 16, 2023
                                ___________
 
 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. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2596  to
 read as follows:
   §  2596.  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:
   (I) THE PLAYER'S FORWARD MOVEMENT IS STOPPED AND THE PLAYER IS  UNABLE
 TO RESUME SUCH FORWARD MOVEMENT; OR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07963-01-3
 A. 5530                             2

 
   (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.