Bill
AB 708
The bill requires youth tackle football programs to allow safety equipment, including soft-shelled helmet add-ons, with court remedies for violations.
Status
- Introduced: February 14, 2025
- Latest status (7/3/2025): In committee — set for first hearing, hearing canceled at the request of the author.
- Assembly floor: Passed Assembly (3/4/2025) — Ayes 74, Noes 0.
- Committee actions: Unanimously passed multiple committees and re‑referred to Appropriations and Judiciary as noted. No fiscal appropriation required.
Purpose / intent
- To require youth tackle football leagues, youth sports organizations that run tackle football programs, and coaches to permit youth participants to use specified safety equipment — explicitly including soft‑shelled add‑ons on football helmets — and to provide enforceable remedies when that requirement is violated.
Where the change appears
- Adds Section 124241.2 to the Health and Safety Code (within the California Youth Football Act framework).
Key provisions
- Duty to allow equipment: A youth tackle football league, youth sports organization, or coach must allow youth tackle football participants to use safety equipment, including soft‑shelled add‑ons on football helmets (text uses “including,” signaling that soft‑shelled add‑ons are specifically covered but not necessarily limited to them).
- Judicial remedies: In addition to other remedies, a court may issue a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction to remedy a violation or threatened violation of this requirement.
- Attorney’s fees and costs: A prevailing plaintiff who obtains any of the judicial remedies listed is entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.
Context and scope
- This amendment sits alongside existing California Youth Football Act provisions (e.g., limits on full‑contact practices and helmet reconditioning/recertification requirements). AB 708 does not amend those practice limits or recertification provisions; it addresses the permissibility of participant use of certain safety equipment.
- The bill does not specify technical standards, certification, or approval processes for the equipment named (e.g., testing or performance requirements for soft‑shelled add‑ons).
Who is affected
- Directly: youth tackle football participants, youth tackle football leagues, youth sports organizations, and coaches.
- Indirectly: school and league administrators, equipment manufacturers and vendors, insurers, and parents/guardians.
Potential implications
- Operational: Leagues and programs may need to revise equipment policies to allow covered safety devices.
- Legal: Organizations that prohibit or restrict such equipment could face injunctive court actions and payment of attorney’s fees if plaintiffs prevail.
- Safety/regulatory: Because the bill does not set performance standards, adoption may prompt additional guidance or disputes about which items qualify as acceptable “safety equipment.”
Legislative history highlights
- Passed Assembly 3/4/2025 (74–0). Referred to Senate committees with unanimous committee votes recorded (dates in March–June 2025). As of 7/3/2025, a scheduled committee hearing was canceled at the author’s request.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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