Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE CHAPARRO
District 33 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Requires AG to regulate and register certain youth football leagues.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning youth football leagues and supplementing Title 5 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this act, "youth football league" means any interscholastic football program or league:
(1) organized by or affiliated with a public or nonpublic school, a nonprofit youth serving organization as defined by section 1 of P.L.1999, c.432, (C.15A:3A-1), a youth sports organization, a county or municipal recreation department, or the governing body of a county or municipality; and
(2) not governed by the rules of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.
b. The Attorney General shall establish procedures for the registration of youth football leagues. No later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this act, each youth football league shall register with the Attorney General.
c. (1) The Attorney General shall promulgate and distribute rules and regulations to youth football leagues. The rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, requirements concerning:
(a) disclosures to parents regarding fees and refund policies;
(b) insurance;
(c) coaching eligibility and training;
(d) participant eligibility;
(e) uniform safety standards;
(f) safety practices; and
(g) anti-substance abuse rules.
(2) In developing these rules and regulations, the Attorney General shall consult with youth interscholastic or sports organizations, county and municipal recreation departments, and any other organization deemed appropriate.
d. The Attorney General, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
e. Each youth football league shall adopt and implement policies and procedures in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Attorney General pursuant to this act.
f. A youth football league that violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000, for each violation, which shall be collected in a summary manner pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.), in the Superior Court or any municipal court.
g. The Attorney General shall conduct a public awareness campaign designed to inform the public about the provisions of this section.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires: 1) the Attorney General to promulgate and distribute rules and regulations to youth football leagues; and 2) youth football leagues to register with the Attorney General.
The Attorney General is required to establish a procedure for the registration of youth football leagues. The rules and regulations shall include, but are not limited to, requirements concerning:
· disclosures to parents regarding fees and refund policies;
· insurance;
· coaching eligibility and training;
· participant eligibility;
· uniform safety standards;
· safety practices; and
· anti-substance abuse rules.
In developing these rules and regulations, the Attorney General is required to consult with youth interscholastic or sports organizations, county or municipal recreational departments, and any other organization deemed appropriate.
This bill requires each youth football league to adopt and implement the Attorney General's rules and regulations. In addition, each youth football league is required to register with the Attorney General.
The bill defines a youth football league as any football program or league that is not governed by the rules of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.
A youth football league that violates the provisions of this act is subject to a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000 for each violation.
The Attorney General is required to conduct a public awareness campaign designed to inform the public about the rules and regulations and registration requirements of youth football.