STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3172

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2271

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2271, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SAFETY EQUIPMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Education school football programs to ensure that non-new football helmets and helmets purchased privately are recertified and reconditioned at least once every two years.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education and two individuals.

Your Committees find that all new football helmets are certified to meet the performance standard set by the National Operating Committee for Sports Equipment when they leave the factory, but as they are used throughout a football season, their protection against concussion may deteriorate. Your Committees believe that all football helmets used in school football programs need to be reconditioned and recertified on a regular basis to ensure the quality of football helmets that are used by students. This measure will ensure the safety of student football athletes by requiring that all football helmets used in Department of Education football programs be reconditioned and recertified at least once every two years.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2271, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair