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WV SB657

WV SB657
Creating Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act


summary

Introduced
01/29/2026
In Committee
02/13/2026
Crossed Over
03/03/2026
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §18-36-1, §18-36-2, §18-36-3, §18-36-4, and §18-36-5, relating to establishing the Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act; providing legislative findings; defining terms; requiring the State Board of Education to promulgate a legislative rule, in consultation with the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy, that governs concussion protocol, education, and training to reduce concussions and the development of a concussion education and response plan; allowing the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy to provide a draft rule; requiring a school to adopt a concussion education and response plan in accordance with the rule; allowing individual student athletes participating in a school-organized football practice to use supplemental safety enhancing devices; allowing individual schools to require their student athletes participating in a school organized football practice to use supplemental safety enhancing devices; allowing county school districts to require student athletes at schools under their jurisdiction and participating in a school-organized football practice to use supplemental safety enhancing devices; preventing any person or entity from prohibiting a student from using supplemental safety enhancing devices while participating in a school-organized football practice; providing use of certain safety equipment may violate the manufacturer’s warranty on other equipment; establishing the Cohen Craddock Memorial Grant Program and providing procedures; and creating the Cohen Craddock Memorial Grant Fund.

AI Summary

This bill, the Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act, aims to enhance safety for student athletes in West Virginia, particularly concerning concussions. It mandates that the State Board of Education, in consultation with the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy, create a rule for concussion protocol, education, and training, and develop a concussion education and response plan, which schools must then adopt. The bill also allows, and in some cases permits schools or county school districts to require, student athletes participating in school-organized football practices to use supplemental safety-enhancing devices, such as impact-reducing soft-shell helmet covers, and prohibits anyone from preventing their use. To address potential issues like warranty violations on existing equipment due to these new devices, the bill establishes the Cohen Craddock Memorial Grant Program and Fund, which schools and county boards can apply to for funding to purchase safety equipment or replace damaged equipment when warranties are voided by the use of supplementary safety gear.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Education

Sponsors (7)

Last Action

Ordered to House (on 03/03/2026)

bill text


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