Bill
Bill > A5519
NJ A5519
NJ A5519Requires water breaks for certain sports events occurring on artificial turf fields.
summary
Introduced
04/10/2025
04/10/2025
In Committee
04/10/2025
04/10/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires any school, college, municipality, or recreational organization hosting a sports event to have a water break schedule based on the outside temperature of a local area for competitions, practices, or instructional activities occurring on an artificial turf field. Under the bill, "artificial turf field" means a field with a surface made of synthetic fibers or materials designed to resemble natural grass, commonly used for recreational, educational, or competitive purposes. In addition, "sports event" means any competition, practice, or instructional activity involving recreational, interscholastic, youth, and collegiate teams, but does not include semi-professional and professional teams. Under the provisions of this bill, at minimum, the following water break schedule is required based on the outside temperature of the local area for all activities occurring on an artificial turf field: at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, water breaks are to be given every 30 minutes; at 85 degrees Fahrenheit, water breaks are to be given every 20 minutes; at 90 degrees Fahrenheit, water breaks are to be given every 15 minutes; and at 95 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, water breaks are to be given every 10 minutes. Additionally, any school, college, municipality, or recreational organization hosting a sports event on an artificial turf field is to suspend the event if the outside temperature of the local area is 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, except that the sports event may be moved indoors to a controlled environment where the temperature may be regulated. Any school, college, municipality, or recreational organization that violates any of the provisions of this bill will receive a written warning issued by a local health authority or department for the first offense. For a second or subsequent offense, the school, college, municipality, or recreational organization will be subject to a civil penalty of $100, which may be collected and enforced by the Department of Health in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).
AI Summary
This bill requires schools, colleges, municipalities, and recreational organizations hosting sports events on artificial turf fields (synthetic surfaces designed to look like grass) to implement mandatory water breaks based on outside temperature to protect athletes from heat-related risks. Specifically, the bill mandates water breaks every 30 minutes at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, every 20 minutes at 85 degrees, every 15 minutes at 90 degrees, and every 10 minutes at 95 degrees or higher. If the temperature reaches 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the event must be suspended, though it can be moved indoors to a temperature-controlled environment. The bill covers recreational, interscholastic, youth, and collegiate teams but excludes semi-professional and professional teams. For enforcement, organizations will receive a written warning for their first violation, and subsequent offenses will result in a $100 civil penalty issued by the Department of Health. The bill will take effect on the first day of Spring following its enactment, and the Commissioner of Health is tasked with creating regulations to implement these provisions, aiming to protect athletes from potential heat-related health risks during sports activities on artificial surfaces.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee (on 04/10/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5519 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A6000/5519_I1.HTM |
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