A sports safety bill named after a middle school football player who died after a football-related head injury during a practice will be considered by the full state Senate.
SB657, creating Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act, was discussed and advanced by the Senate Finance Committee today.
A similar bill was considered last year but was not passed into law. Last year’s legislation would have required all youth football players in West Virginia to wear a soft-shell cover such as Guardian Caps on their helmets for organized practice.
“I had major reservations under this bill previously,” said Senator Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell. “This bill is now righteous, and we’re going to be able to do some good with it.”
This year’s bill makes the use of those helmets permissive, so schools could opt in. The bill also calls for examination of concussion protocol, education and training to prevent concussions — the development of a Concussion Education Prevention and Response Plan.
The bill also establishes the Cohen Craddock Memorial Grant Program to help with funding for football safety equipment that reduces concussions.
“This bill is significantly different and better than the version we had last year,” said Senate Education Chairwoman Amy Nichole Grady. “It adds in an educational aspect. Education in prevention, trying to prevent and reduce concussions, has proven to be the number one impacter on protecting kids.”
The committee also discussed and advanced The Women’s Collegiate Sports Protection Act, SB 502.
Overall, the bill aims to shield collegiate women’s sports from market volatility and shifting funding priorities through a blend of private investment and whatever might be available through administrative savings.
The bill proposes the creation of permanent endowment funds where the principal remains untouched, aiming to build a consistent revenue stream for scholarships, coaching, and facilities.
Earlier version of the bill indicated the state would offer tax credits to private donors but that was removed to make the bill revenue neutral.
Earnings from a women’s athletics endowment may be used only for scholarships, coaching and training staff, equipment, facilities, travel, and other expenses directly related to women’s collegiate Olympic sports programs.
West Virginia University, in a statement, expressed support for the bill, “which creates an optional endowment fund and is an important next step in helping to ensure women’s collegiate Olympic sports programs are available to our student-athletes in the rapidly changing NIL landscape.
“Last year, the Legislature passed two bills to support college athletics in West Virginia — the NIL Protection Act and the Athletics Nonprofit Act. Like those bills, SB 502 will help WVU continue to compete.”