HB 5240 Summary

• Establishes a task force to study injury prevention and safety protocols in youth sports leagues and intramural and interscholastic athletic programs, effective upon passage.

• Task force shall analyze the efficacy and safety of protective neck guards in ice hockey and compare best practices for injury prevention across the state to identify areas for improvement.

• Task force consists of 11 members including experts in sports medicine, neuroscience, and sports psychology, plus representatives from youth sports leagues, park and recreation departments, athletic conferences, trainers' associations, athletic directors, and coaches associations, plus the Commissioners of Public Health and Education.

• Task force must submit a report on protective neck guards by January 1, 2023, and a second report on broader injury prevention recommendations by January 1, 2024, after which the task force terminates.

• Private youth athletic programs may adopt the task force recommendations starting January 1, 2023, when developing their own injury prevention and safety protocols.