Bill > SB585

This bill establishes the Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act, which creates a comprehensive framework to enhance student athlete safety in West Virginia, particularly in interscholastic sports. The legislation creates a nine-member Student Athlete Safety Advisory Committee composed of state education, health, and medical professionals who will evaluate athletic safety protocols, injury statistics, and equipment standards across various sports. Starting July 1, 2026, the bill mandates that high school and middle school football teams use impact-reducing soft-shell helmet covers during practices to mitigate the risk of head injuries, with provisions for schools facing financial hardship in acquiring the equipment. The bill also establishes the Cohen Craddock Memorial Grant Program and corresponding fund to help schools purchase safety equipment, with funding sources including state appropriations, federal money, and private donations. Schools can apply for grants to cover safety equipment costs on a first-come, first-served basis. The legislation includes important protections ensuring that using soft-shell helmet covers will not void manufacturer warranties, and it includes a sunset provision that will expire the act and its associated grant fund on July 1, 2030, unless the Legislature takes action to extend it. The bill is motivated by concerns about student athletes' potential long-term health risks, particularly related to head injuries and repeated impacts during sports activities.