EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1272*
HOUSE BILL 1272
J1, F1 5lr3469
HB 733/23 – W&M
By: Delegates Woorman, Hill, Acevero, Kaufman, Schindler, Shetty, and Wu
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Youth Sports Safety Advisory Commission 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Youth Sports Safety Advisory Commission to study 3
and make recommendations to minimize risk and maximize safety for youth 4
athletes; and generally relating to the Youth Sports Safety Advisory Commission. 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That: 7
(a) There is a Youth Sports Safety Advisory Commission. 8
(b) The Commission consists of the following members: 9
(1) one member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of 10
the Senate; 11
(2) one member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the 12
House; 13
(3) the State Superintendent of Schools, or the State Superintendent’s 14
designee; and 15
(4) the following members who have experience with youth sports safety or 16
treating youth sports injuries, appointed by the Governor: 17
(i) one representative of the Maryland Chapter of the American 18
Academy of Pediatrics; 19
(ii) one representative of the Maryland Academy of Family 20
Physicians; 21
2 HOUSE BILL 1272
(iii) one representative of the Society of Pediatric Psychology; 1
(iv) one representative of the Maryland Psychological Association; 2
(v) one representative of the American Academy of Clinical 3
Neuropsychology; 4
(vi) one representative of the Maryland Athletic Trainers 5
Association; 6
(vii) one representative of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools 7
Athletic Association who is a coach; 8
(viii) one representative of the Maryland Board of Football Officials; 9
(ix) one representative of the Mid–Atlantic Sports Turf Managers 10
Association; 11
(x) one representative of the Maryland Association of County Park 12
and Recreation Administrators; 13
(xi) one representative of the Medical Mutual Liability Insurance 14
Society of Maryland who is a risk management specialist; 15
(xii) one pediatrician or family medicine practitioner; 16
(xiii) one orthopedist; 17
(xiv) one emergency medicine physician who treats pediatric patients; 18
(xv) one pediatric cardiologist; 19
(xvi) one public health epidemiologist; and 20
(xvii) one physical therapist. 21
(c) The Governor shall designate the chair of the Commission. 22
(d) (1) The Commission shall meet at least twice a year, at the times and 23
places that the Commission determines. 24
(2) The chair of the Commission may make the determination that more 25
frequent meetings are necessary. 26
(e) The Maryland Department of Health shall provide staff for the Commission. 27
(f) A member of the Commission: 28 HOUSE BILL 1272 3
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but 1
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 2
Travel Regulations as provided in the State budget. 3
(g) The Commission shall: 4
(1) study evidence–based policies and practices for maximizing safety for 5
youth athletes at different age levels, with a concentration on youth athletes who are under 6
the age of 15 years, and stages of brain development based on national research; 7
(2) seek input from nationally recognized youth sports oversight 8
organizations, including US Youth Soccer, USA Cheer, US Lacrosse, and USA Football; 9
(3) study ways to reduce injury risk levels to youth athletes at different 10
ages; and 11
(4) make recommendations for implementation of evidence–based best 12
practices for minimizing injury risk for youth athletes. 13
(h) On or before December 31, 2026, the Commission shall submit a report of its 14
findings and recommendations to the Governor, the State Board of Educatio n, the 15
Maryland Department of Health, and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government 16
Article, the General Assembly. 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 18
October 1, 2025. It shall remain effective for a period of 5 years and, at the end of September 19
30, 2030, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 20
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 21