Whereas, there are approximately 500,000 soccer goals in the United States; and

Whereas, many of these soccer goals are unsafe due to improper design, manufacture, or installation; and

Whereas, problems also arise with the instability of movable soccer goals when they are unanchored, not properly anchored, or not properly counterbalanced; and

Whereas, unstable soccer goals pose an unnecessary risk of tip-over to children who climb on the goals or nets or hang from the crossbar and have the potential to cause catastrophic injury to persons around the soccer goal; and

Whereas, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, at least nine children under the age of 16 have died and approximately 2000 serious injuries have occurred as a result of accidents involving movable soccer goals between 1998 to 2010; and

Whereas, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has promulgated Guidelines for Movable Soccer Goal Safety; and

Whereas, the establishment of statewide guidelines for soccer goal safety will help to ensure the safety of children around soccer goals at schools and other recreational areas; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  §1. The Board of Housing and Community Development shall develop guidelines for anchoring movable soccer goals located in public recreational areas. As used in this act, "public recreaction area" means a publicly or privately owned area used by members of the public for recreational activities.