California Youth Football Act: safety equipment.

Assembly Member Valencia's youth football safety measure would require California youth tackle football organizations to permit players to use additional protective equipment, including soft-shell helmet add-ons. The bill builds upon the existing California Youth Football Act, which currently regulates practice schedules and mandates regular helmet reconditioning.

The legislation establishes enforcement mechanisms through the courts, allowing for temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, or permanent injunctions when organizations fail to comply with the equipment requirements. Players or their representatives who successfully obtain such injunctive relief would be entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs. This provision applies to all youth tackle football leagues, organizations running tackle football programs, and their coaches throughout California.

The measure introduces these new requirements without imposing direct costs on state or local governments, as it contains no appropriations and relies on existing judicial frameworks for enforcement. Organizations would need to modify their equipment policies to accommodate players who choose to use the additional safety gear, while maintaining compliance with other Youth Football Act provisions regarding practice limitations and standard helmet maintenance.