BILL ANALYSIS SB 880 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 4, 2010 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair SB 880 (Yee) - As Amended: August 2, 1010 Policy Committee: Health Vote:14-4 Judiciary 7-2 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill requires an individual younger than 18 years of age to wear a properly fitted and approved helmet when downhill skiing or snowboarding. Specifically, this bill: 1)Requires helmets to meet the standards of specified national or international safety organizations. 2)Requires the first charge of failing to meet the helmet requirement to be dismissed. 3)Establishes a fine for an infraction of the helmet requirement of not more than $25. 4)Requires ski resorts to post signs about the helmet requirement and to provide written notice on trail maps and websites. 5)Specifies this bill will only become operative if AB 1652, pending in the Senate, is also enacted. FISCAL EFFECT This bill contains no specific enforcement or reporting requirements. Therefore no direct fiscal impact is created by this bill. COMMENTS 1)Rationale . This bill is sponsored by the California Psychological Association to establish basic safety standards SB 880 Page 2 for children who ski and snowboard at California resorts. The author and sponsor indicate more than 7,000 head injuries occur annually at American ski resorts. Research indicates the use of a helmet for skiing and snowboarding reduces head, neck, and face injuries by 40% to 50%. The benefits of helmet protection are particularly pronounced for children. 2)Related Legislation . AB 1652 (Jones), pending in the Senate, requires ski resorts to prepare an annual safety plan and provide a monthly summary of injuries and deaths. AB 1652 also requires children and resort employees to wear helmets. Analysis Prepared by : Mary Ader / APPR. / (916) 319-2081