WANT TO SAY. GOOD MORNING TO
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO
HAVE JOINED US TO CALL THIS
MEETING THIS HEARING TO ORDER OF
THE ASSEMBLY, ARTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS AND
TOURISM COMMITTEE TO ORDER IN
ROOM 127 IN THE STATE CAPITAL.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED. I WOULD
LIKE TO COVER A FEW HOUSEKEEPING
ITEMS FOR YOUR EDIFICATION JUST
FOR THE PROCESS AND THE FLOW OF
THE COMMITTEE HEARING. FOR
TODAY'S HEARING. WE WILL ONLY
ACCEPT IN PERSON TESTIMONY. AND
WHEN IS THIS IS IN SUPPORT AND
WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION. THE
BILL BEING PRESENTED TODAY WILL
HAVE A MAXIMUM OF TWO PRIMARY
WITNESSES. IN SUPPORT AND TWO
PRIMARY WITNESSES AND
OPPOSITION. WITH A LIMIT OF TWO
MINUTES PER PERSON. SO A TOTAL
OF FOUR MINUTES AND SUPPORT AND
FOUR MINUTES AND OPPOSITION
CERTAINLY THE PRESENTER, THE
AUTHOR OF THE BILL HAVE AS MUCH
TIME AS AS HE NEEDS TO PRESENT
HIS HIS BILL. AFTER WE HAVE
HEARD FROM THE PRIMARY WITNESS
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE IN
THE MEETING ROOM WILL BE GIVEN
AN OPPORTUNITY TO STATE THEIR
NAME. THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH
THEY REPRESENT THAT REPRESENT,
UM, THEIR POSITION. UM ON THIS
PARTICULAR BILL, SO I DON'T HAVE
TO GO A LONG LIST OF YOUR BIO,
JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE
THEY SUPPORT THE BILL OR NOT,
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS WILL BE
RULED OUT OF ORDER. UM ANYONE
ACTING INAPPROPRIATELY OR
DISRESPECTFULLY? TOWARDS THE
TOWARDS THE PARTICIPANTS OF THIS
HEARING ROOM WILL BE ASKED TO
LEAVE. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT
THE COMMITTEE ACCEPTS WRITTEN
TESTIMONIES THROUGH THE POSITION
LETTER PUERTO ON THE COMMITTEE'S
WEBSITE. FOR YOUR EDIFICATION.
THAT WEBSITE IS A R T. DODD
ASSEMBLY DOT C A DOT GOV ONCE
AGAIN, IT'S ALPHA ALPHA. ROBERT
TOM DOT ASSEMBLY. DOT C A DOT G
O V. AGAIN ONCE WE HAVE
SUFFICIENT ENOUGH MEMBERS, WE
WILL BEGIN TO START THIS
HEARING. UM AND IF WE DON'T WE
WILL START AS A SUBCOMMITTEE. UM
IN ORDER TO, UM MOVE THE AGENDA
BEFORE THIS BODY FORWARD.
SO I SPOKE TO MADAME SECRETARY.
WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM, BUT WE
WILL BE ABLE TO START RIGHT NOW
AS A SUBCOMMITTEE UM, WE SEE
WHAT IS THAT? WE NOTICED THAT MR
MCCARTHY IS HERE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MCCARTY
UM, WE WANT TO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON FILE
ITEM NUMBER ONE ASSEMBLY BILL
730 FOR YOUTH TACKLING, UM,
TACKLE FOOTBALL. AND THEN WE
WILL MOVE TO YOUR TWO WITNESSES
AND AGAIN. WE'VE ALREADY WENT
OVER THE TWO MINUTES EACH. UM
AND THEN WE'LL DO THE SAME THING
FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION. SO, MR MCCARTHY,
WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE
PROCEED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
CHAIRMAN GIBSON. UM AND THIS IS
YOUR NEW ASSIGNMENT SHARING THIS
COMMITTEE HOT SEAT ON DAY ONE. I
APPRECIATE YOU. TAKING THE TIME
TO WORK WITH US, UM THE LAST FEW
WEEKS AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK
OUR OUTSTANDING COMMITTEE
CONSULTED TO LAID OUT THE ISSUE
IN THE ANALYSIS, THE LATEST
FACTS AND RESEARCH FROM BOTH
SIDES AS WELL AS HELP HELD A
REALLY INFORMATIVE UM,
INFORMATIONAL HEARING THIS FALL,
WHICH LED US TO WHERE WE ARE
TODAY. UM SO WITH YOU, I WILL BE
TAKING YOUR PROPOSED COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS WHICH WE WILL OUTLINE
, WHICH WILL PHASE IN
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS AND
GRANDFATHER, EXISTING KIDS
PLAYING YOUTH TACKLE FOOTBALL.
LET ME START BY SAYING THAT, UM,
YOU KNOW, THIS IS ABOUT A
FOOTBALL BILL ABOUT KIDS. IT'S
ABOUT YOUNG KIDS. AND JUST START
WITH FOOTBALL. I'M NOT ANTI
FOOTBALL. I LOVE FOOTBALL. I
GREW UP HERE IN SACRAMENTO, FIVE
MILES FROM HERE PLAYING POP
WARNER FOOTBALL FLAG FOOTBALL.
MY BROTHER PLAYED AND I GOT OUT
OF FOOTBALL. WINTER BASEBALL.
THAT WAS MY SUPPORT. MY BROTHER
PLAYED HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
PLAYER IN COLLEGE. MY NEPHEW
PLAYED HIGH LEVEL COLLEGE
FOOTBALL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
FINISHED A YEAR AGO. SO WE ARE.
WE ARE A FOOTBALL FAMILY, BUT
TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE. YOU CAN
LOVE FOOTBALL. AND I DO LOVE.
I'M SORRY, MISS MCKENNA. I LOVE
MY 40 NINERS AND HOPEFULLY AFTER
29 YEARS TO COME BACK AND WIN A
SUPER BOWL RING THIS YEAR, SO
YOU CAN LOVE FOOTBALL AND LOVE
OUR KIDS AND TRY TO PROTECT OUR
KIDS AT THE SAME TIME, AND AFTER
MANY YEARS OF LOOKING AT THIS
ISSUE, I BELIEVE THE TIME IS NOW
THAT WE FURTHER PROTECT OUR KIDS
AND SET MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENTS
FOR KIDS TO PLAY YOUTH TACKLE
FOOTBALL, SO THIS BILL IS VERY
SIMPLE. IT SETS A STANDARD THAT
KIDS BE 12 YEARS OLD BEFORE THEY
START PLAYING TACKLE FOOTBALL
BECAUSE KIDS ONLY HAVE ONE
BRAIN. I ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE. AND
THERE'S IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO
KIDS BRAINS THAT IS TOTALLY
UNNECESSARY AND YOU CAN WAIT.
THERE'S OTHER ALTERNATIVES FOR
YOUNG KIDS. OTHER SPORTS, OTHER
FOOTBALL ACTIVITIES LIKE FLAG
FOOTBALL, WHICH THE NFL IS
HEAVILY INVESTING IN ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES, SO THERE IS A WAY
TO LOVE FOOTBALL AND PROTECT OUR
KIDS. UM. WE'VE COME TO REALIZE
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THERE IS
NO REAL SAFE WAY TO PLAY TACKLE
FOOTBALL. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO
SAFE BLOW TO THE HEADS FOR 678,
YEAR OLD AND A 5678 11 YEAR OLD
SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCED,
EXPERIENCING HUNDREDS OF SUB
CONCUSSIVE HITS TO THE HEAD ON
AN ANNUAL BASIS. WHEN THERE IS
AN ALTERNATIVE. YEARS AGO. I WAS
IN THIS COMMITTEE WITH DR OMALU
AFTER THE MOVIE CONCUSSION TO
SET CONCUSSION STANDARDS. I
THOUGHT THAT WAS THE ISSUE BUT
REALIZED NO, IT'S THESE SUB
CONCUSSIVE HITS THAT REALLY ARE
THE THINGS THAT CAUSE CTE AND
RESEARCH AFTER RESEARCH AND FROM
OUR WITNESSES WILL ARTICULATE
THIS. UM THERE ARE OTHER CONTACT
SPORTS THAT HAVE SET MINIMUM AGE
REQUIREMENTS. LACROSSE SOCCER
HOCKEY FIRST STANDARDS. FOOTBALL
IS THE ONLY ONE THAT DOESN'T
HAVE THIS MINIMUM AGE
REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTACT. I KNOW
PEOPLE ARE SAYING WELL, IT'S THE
HELMETS. WELL JUST LIKE THE
BUMPERS DON'T SAY SOLVE PROBLEMS
WITH CAR COLLISIONS, HELMETS
SOLVE ISSUES WITH SKULL CRACKING
. BUT WHAT ABOUT INSIDE THE
SCHOOL? REMEMBER THE BRAIN IS
FLOATING IN WATER. AND SO THE
HELMET PROTECTS THE HEAD FROM
GETTING SMACKED AND BLEEDING AND
BROKEN. BUT THE BRAIN BOUNCES
OFF THAT SOFT TISSUE AND YOUNG
KIDS JUST LIKE SHAKING. BABY
SYNDROME ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE
AND AT RISK. SO YOU MAY YOU MAY
ASK THE QUESTION. I'LL GET TO MY
WITNESSES, AND THEY WILL HAVE
SOME DEBATE. WHAT'S CHANGED? WHY
NOW? YOU KNOW, WHERE IS THE
SMOKING GUN LIKE WE SAW WITH
TOBACCO 30 YEARS AGO? WELL, A
LOT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS ON THIS NUMBER ONE PARENTS
, BY THE WAY, ARE VOTING WITH
THEIR FEET. THEY'RE GOING FROM
TACKLE FOR YOUNG KIDS TO FLAT
BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A SAFE
ALTERNATIVE. AND KIDS CAN WAIT.
WE KNOW THAT NFL LEGENDS ARE
SAYING IT CAN WAIT. HALL OF
FAMERS LIKE WARREN SAPP, BRETT
FARVE, NINE OR GREAT RANDY CROSS
ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT IT CAN
WAIT. THEY CAN WAIT TILL THEY
GET TO HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE THEY
START BANGING THEIR HEADS. UM
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A POP
WARNER LEGEND TO GET IN THE NFL
AND BEAT HERE. OH LOOK AT YOU
KNOW CALIFORNIA'S OWN TOM BRADY
WITH HIS SEVEN SUPER BOWL RINGS.
HE DIDN'T START PLAYING UNTIL HE
WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. SO WE CAN IT
CAN WAIT. NFL. ARE INVESTING
HEAVILY IN FLAG LEAGUES ALL
ACROSS THE STATE. IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, EVERY COMMUNITY HAS
A FLAT HAS IT AS A POP WARNER
TACKLE LEAGUE PROGRAM IN
SACRAMENTO. WE WENT RESEARCH
THEY HAVE FLAG PROGRAMS RIGHT,
THEY'RE READILY AVAILABLE MANY
TIMES MUCH CHEAPER AND AVAILABLE
AS WELL. WHAT ELSE HAS HAPPENED?
MEDICAL GROUPS HAVE STEPPED UP
AND SAID IT'S TIME IN THE
ANALYSIS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE
AMERICAN ACADEMY FOR PEDIATRICS
TALKS ABOUT THE LINK BETWEEN CTE
THE BRAIN AND YOU TACKLE
FOOTBALL AND THEY RECOMMEND IT
CAN WAIT. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR
FROM OUR WITNESSES FROM THE
CALIFORNIA NEUROLOGICAL SOCIETY,
THE CALIFORNIA FAMILY DOCTORS
ASSOCIATED ASSOCIATION OF CAME
OUT IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. BUT
WHAT'S REALLY CHANGED TO ME
HONESTLY? IS THE STORIES WE'VE
HEARD WE HEARD A DECADE AGO
ABOUT THE LEGEND JUNIOR SEO SAN
DIEGO IN CALIFORNIA LEGEND 78,
USC GRAD. SAN DIEGO CHARGER
SUPER BOWL HERO COMMUNITY ICON.
HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS, MENTAL
HEALTH BREAKDOWNS, HE KNEW
SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THEM.
HE COMMITTED SUICIDE. WE
REMEMBER HOW HE COMMITTED
SUICIDE. HE SHOT HIMSELF IN THE
HEART. BECAUSE HE WANTED HIS
BRAIN. TO BE STUDIED. DAVE
DUERSON, CHICAGO BEAR LEGEND.
SAME THING. SHOT HIMSELF IN THE
HEART. BECAUSE HE WANTED HIS
FAMILY. TO STUDY HIS BRAIN.
COUNTLESS NFL LEGENDS HAVE DONE
THE SAME THING. THE THING THAT'S
MOST HAUNTING TO ME. THE STORY
OF 18 YEAR OLD WYATT. BRAMWELL.
18 YEAR OLD. WAS ON THE PHONE.
TALKING TO HIS PARENTS. DRIVING
HIS CAR. SAID SOMETHING IS
WRONG. I CAN'T CONTINUE LIKE
THIS. I WANT YOU TO STUDY MY
BRAIN. ON THE PHONE PULLED OVER
THE CAR. PUT DOWN HIS PHONE TOOK
OUT A GUN SHOT HIMSELF IN THE
HEARTS. SO THEY COULD STUDY HIS
BRAIN. AND THEY FOUND THAT HE
STARTED PLAYING FOOTBALL TOO
EARLY AGE AND HE HAD MORE DAMAGE
TO HIS BRAIN THAN JUNIOR SALE.
SO THE RESEARCH SHOWS JUST LIKE
SMOKING IN THE EARLIER YOU START
SMOKING. THE MORE DAMAGE YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO YOUR BODY. SAME
THING WITH TACKLE FOOTBALL. THE
BRAINS ARE STILL DEVELOPING THE
EARLIER YOU START PARTICIPATING
IN THIS ACTIVITY. THE MORE AT
RISK YOU PUT YOURSELF. CDC FINDS
THAT PLAYING TACKLE FOOTBALL.
YOU HAVE 23 TIMES MORE HIGH
MAGNITUDE HITS AS YOUNG KIDS
THAN FLAG. THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH HAS
IDENTIFIED CTE AS THE CAUSE. AS
THE THAT'S CAUSED BY REPEATED
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES.
INCLUDING CONCUSSIONS AND SUB
CONCUSSIVE HITS AND REPEATED THE
HITS OUR GREATEST FROM SPORTS
LIKE YOUTH TACKLE FOOTBALL AGAIN
. BOSTON UNIVERSITY IS FINDING
TEENS. WITH CTE IN THE BRAINS
AND FOCUSING ON THE YEARS THAT
THE PARTICIPATED AGAIN HELMETS
AND SAFETY MEASURES LIKE THE
MEASURE THAT WE HEARD FROM,
WE'LL HEAR FROM WHAT WE VOTED ON
A FEW YEARS AGO, THIS
LEGISLATURE A B ONE BY OUR OUR
SHERIFF, WHO CARES ABOUT YOUTH
SPORTS, JUST LIKE I DO CAN
PROTECT YOUTH TACKLE FOOTBALL
PROGRAMS. BUT FOR 12 AND UP FOR
UNDER 12. I THINK IT'S TIME THAT
WE PROTECT KIDS, BRAINS AND
FOCUS ON THEIR FUTURE. AND WITH
THAT, UM, MR CHAIR AND MADAM AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. UM
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE
AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATIONS LIKE TO INTRODUCE
MY WITNESSES. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR MCCARTHY. BEFORE WE DO
THAT WE WANT TO ESTABLISH A
QUORUM. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. GIBSON HERE.
EXCUSE ME, WALLACE. PHªN LACKEY,
MAKIN ER SANTIAGO VALENCIA. UH
OF QUORUM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
UM SO YOUR WITNESS CAN PROCEED.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE
STATE YOUR NAME AND THEN
PROCEED, WHICH ARE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. THE GUARD, A
PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGIST PRACTICING
IN MONTEREY AND CURRENT
PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA
NEUROLOGY SOCIETY. IT IS MY
HONOR TO REPRESENT OUR SPECIALTY
AS SPONSOR OF ASSEMBLY BILL 734
LAST FALL. IT WAS MY PRIVILEGE
TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY BEFORE THIS
COMMITTEE ON THE SUBJECT OF
YOUTH TACKLE FOOTBALL AND THE
DEVELOPING BRAIN. THE SOURCE
DATA PROVIDED TO COMMITTEE OFFER
SIGNIFICANT INSIGHTS FOR
POLICYMAKERS REGARDING THE
UNNECESSARY RISKS. FACED BY
NEARLY 4 MILLION YOUNG CHILDREN
WHO ENGAGE IN TACKLE FOOTBALL
EACH YEAR, CAUSING POTENTIAL
IRREPARABLE HARM TO THEIR STILL
DEVELOPING BRAINS. LAST WEEK,
YOU WERE PROVIDED A SCIENTIFIC
REPORT PUBLISHED OCTOBER 20 2300
AND 52 DECEASED CONTACT SPORTS
ATHLETES UNDER THE AGE OF 30.
ALL WERE DIAGNOSED IN LIFE. WITH
TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY
SYNDROME. CTE WAS DIAGNOSED IN
63, THE OTHER BRAINS REVEALED
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY OR TBI
RELATED ABNORMALITIES, NOT
MEETING CTE CRITERIA. CTE WAS
DIAGNOSED IN ATHLETES WHO PLAYED
A MEAN OF THREE YEARS LONGER
THAN ATHLETES WHOSE BRAIN
FINDINGS DID NOT MEET CTE
CRITERIA. CAUSES OF DEATH WERE
NUMBER ONE SUICIDE NUMBER TWO
UNINTENTIONAL OVERDOSE,
REGARDLESS OF AUTOPSY FINDINGS,
THE AUTHOR AND NEUROPATHOLOGIST
HIGHLIGHTS THAT CTE IS ALSO
DETECTABLE IN THE BRAINS OF
AMATEUR CONTACT SPORTS PLAYERS,
NOT JUST PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS.
FINDINGS FROM THIS STUDY GAINED
MEDIA COVERAGE IN THE NEW YORK
TIMES ARTICLE. THAT MR MCCARTHY
REFERRED TO IN WHICH PREGNANT
REAL LIFE TESTIMONY FROM A
DECEASED TEENAGE ATHLETES
RECORDING A FAREWELL VIDEO TO
HIS PARENTS, EXPLAINING HIS
SUICIDE, URGING HIS PARENTS TO
DONATE HIS BRAIN TO SCIENCE, AND
HE FIRMLY BELIEVED THE HE HAD
BRAIN DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF
PLAYING TACKLE FOOTBALL AND
AUTOPSY FINDINGS INDEED,
CONFIRMED HE HAD C T E AT THE
AGE OF 18. OTHER PARENTS OF
DECEASED ATHLETES WITH CT SHARE
THEIR WITNESS TO THE CHALLENGES
THEIR CHILDREN FACED BEFORE
THEIR UNTIMELY DEATHS. THIS
WEALTH OF DATA IS
STRAIGHTFORWARD REVELATIONS
PUBLISHED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES
EXPOSE ARE GLARINGLY APPARENT,
WHILE THE MEDICAL DATA SEEMS
COMPLEX STUDY RESULTS ARE
CONVINCINGLY CLEAR THE MEDICAL
AND SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITIES
UNANIMOUSLY AGREE THAT
REPETITIVE HEAD IMPACTS
REGARDLESS OF IMPACT SEVERITY,
LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR BRAIN
INJURY. AUTOPSY FINDINGS HAVE T
B AND C T E ALIGNED WITH THE
DIAGNOSIS DURING LIFE OF
TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY
SYNDROME ARE FOCUSED, THEREFORE,
SHOULD BE ON PREVENTING
TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY
SYNDROME, A DIAGNOSIS IN LIFE
THAT ARISES FROM THE
ACCUMULATION OF REPEATED
SOMETIMES SEEMINGLY MILD HEAD
TRAUMA, OFTEN TOO EASILY
DISMISSED BY COACHES. PARENTS
AND SIMPLY SHAKEN OFF BY THE
PLAYERS THEMSELVES. ASSEMBLY
BILL 734 REPRESENTS A
SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS
MITIGATING THE ACCRUAL OF SUCH
TRAUMA. IT WILL SERVE TO EDUCATE
, INFORM THE PUBLIC OR
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND
HELP SAFEGUARD OUR YOUTH FROM
THE BURDEN OF DAILY STRUGGLES
WITH COGNITIVE AND MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES. WHEN THE NFL TAKES
MEASURES TO PROTECT ITS PLAYERS
BY PLAYING FLAG FOOTBALL IN THE
PRO BOWL, IT IS NOT JUST
SAFEGUARDING ITS MULTIMILLION
DOLLAR INVESTMENTS. IT DELIVERS
THE CLEAR MESSAGE THAT IMPACT
INJURIES AND CUMULATIVE HEAD
TRAUMA ARE PERILOUS AND SHOULD
BE MINIMIZED. OTHER YOUTH
CONTACT. SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS
HAVE ALREADY MADE MITIGATING
DECISIONS TO SAFEGUARD THEIR
YOUNG ATHLETES. I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THE DATA IS CLEAR IN
AN AMBIGUOUS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN,
ESPECIALLY ACCUMULATED LOW, SO
THE HEAD OF ANY MAGNITUDE MUST
BE PREVENTED. WITH YOUR HELP.
MAYBE 734 WILL BE THE STARTING
POINT. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
QUESTIONS AS YOU ALLOW SER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH NEXT
WITNESS. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
GOOD MORNING. I'M DR DEEP ALANI
LUCAS. I'M FROM OAKLAND
CURRENTLY RESIDE IN RICHMOND,
VIRGINIA. I HOLD A PHD IN HEALTH
POLICY AND PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
POLICY PATHWAYS INCORPORATED.
BUT I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I AM
THE MOTHER OF STANLEY WILSON JR.
WHO DIED ON FEBRUARY 1ST 2023 AT
THE AGE OF 40. HE WAS DIAGNOSED
WITH CTE E. CAUSED BY PLAYING
FOOTBALL FOR 12 YEARS THE
AMERICAN TRADITION OF YOUTH
FOOTBALL MUST BE PLAYED IN A
MANNER THAT ENRICHES AND NOT
DESTROYS THE BRAINS AND LIVES OF
OUR CHILDREN. THAT MEANS PLAYING
FLAG FOOTBALL. CTE RISK
INCREASES BY AS MUCH AS 30% PER
YEAR. FOR TACKLE FOOTBALL
PLAYERS. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE FOR
CHILDREN. A B 734 DECREASES CTE
RISK BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF
YEARS CHILDREN PLAY TACKLE
FOOTBALL AND IT PRIORITIZES
THEIR SAFETY AND WELL BEING. MY
SON STANLEY SEEMED TO LIVE THE
AMERICAN DREAM. HE EXCELLED IN
FOOTBALL IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND
HIGH SCHOOL IN L. A AT STANFORD
UNIVERSITY AND PLAYED THREE
SEASONS IN THE NFL. STANLEY WAS
COURAGEOUS HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR,
STRONG FAITH AND GOD LOVE FOR
FAMILY. HE READ IT EACH DAY,
RESILIENT WITH OPTIMISM, PURPOSE
AND DRIVE. THEN STANLEY CHANGED.
I SUPPORTED MY ADULT SON AS HE
SUFFERED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS,
DRUG ADDICTION, SUICIDAL
THOUGHTS AND SELF DESTRUCTIVE
BEHAVIOR THAT ULTIMATELY
RESULTED IN HIS INCARCERATION.
HE SPENT THE FINAL MONTHS OF HIS
LIFE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE LOS
ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT, WHERE HE DIED UNDER
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.
STANLEY COULD NOT I WAS NOT ABLE
TO AVOID THE DEVASTATING IMPACT
OF C T E FOR ATHLETES WITH CT E.
THEIR BRAINS BECOME SO DAMAGED
THAT THE VOICES IN THEIR HEADS
ARE TELLING THEM TO KILL
THEMSELVES. AND THEY STRUGGLE
WITH THOSE VOICES EVERY DAY TO
STAY ALIVE. ONE MORE DAY. THIS
BILL WILL HELP FAMILIES PROTECT
THE YOUNGEST ATHLETES EVERY
DEUCE, THE PAIN, SUFFERING AND
LOSS THAT BURDENS FAMILIES LIKE
MINE IMPACTED BY C T. E. THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK FOR
STANLEY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
AND WE'RE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
UM NEXT, WE'LL HAVE, UM
INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK.
IN SUPPORT OF ASSEMBLY BILL 734.
IF YOU CAN PLEASE LINE UP. UM
AGAIN. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE
IF YOU COULD JUST PLEASE STATE
YOUR NAME OR YOUR ORGANIZATION.
AND THAT YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE.
THAT'S THE ONLY TESTIMONY THAT
WE WILL BE RECEIVING HERE ON
THIS BILL. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME
IS STEVE QATAR. THE CALIFORNIA
PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND
REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION.
THERE. THE PAIN MANAGEMENT
PHYSICIANS AS WELL AS THE
INDEPENDENT PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
OF CALIFORNIA AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
NEXT WITNESS IN SUPPORT NAME
ORGANIZATION. THAT'S IT. OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW WE'LL
INVITE THOSE. NOW WE'LL BRING IT
BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. IF
THEY'RE COMMITTEE HAS ANY
QUESTIONS. FOR THE AUTHOR OR THE
PRESENTERS. IN SUPPORT OF 734.
MR MCKENNA. SO NOT ASKING TO
STOP FOOTBALL. JUST TACKLING
THERE'S THEY COULD STILL PLAY
FLAG FOOTBALL. I JUST WANT TO BE
CLEAR ON THAT. YES AND I THINK
MUCH OF YOUR HERE WE TOOK SOME
AMENDMENTS, SO I KNOW THERE'S
SOME YOUNG KIDS HERE. I'M SURE
THEY LOVE PLAYING TACKLE
FOOTBALL SO THEY WOULD BE ABLE
TO CONTINUE PLAYING TACKLE UNTIL
THEY AGE OUT. MAYBE THEIR LITTLE
BROTHERS AND NEPHEWS. WHEN THEY
WANT TO START, THEY WOULD BE
PLAYING FLAG UNTIL THEY'RE 12
YEARS OLD. ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. HEARING AND SEEING
NONE. OKAY SO AT THIS TIME, WE
WILL ASK THOSE, UH, TWO KEY
WITNESSES TO COME TO THE TABLE.
UM IN OPPOSITION OF 734. WOULD
YOU PLEASE COME AND HAVE A SEAT
AT THE TABLE?
GO FIRST. SO WHOEVER IS GOING
FIRST LEGAL, PLEASE STATE YOUR
NAME ORGANIZATION AND PROCEED TO
MINUTES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I
APPRECIATE IT. PUT IT ON TIME
CHAIR. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M GOING TO
SHARE A FEW BRIEF REMARKS, AND
I'M CERTAINLY CAN TAKE QUESTIONS
IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THAT TIME.
GOOD MORNING COMMUNITY. EXCUSE
ME. COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND
ESTEEMED GUESTS. MY NAME IS RON
WHITE. AND I AM THE PRESIDENT
THAT CALIFORNIA YOUTH FOOTBALL
ALLIANCE THE ALLIANCE REPRESENTS
HUNDREDS. OF YOU. TACKLE
FOOTBALL ORGANIZATIONS
ENCOMPASSING THOUSANDS OF YOU
TACKLE FOOTBALL PARTICIPANTS
STATEWIDE WHEN YOU RESPECTFULLY
COME BEFORE YOU TODAY ABSOLUTE
FIRM OPPOSITION. ASSEMBLY BILL
734. OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS.
THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH FOOTBALL
ALLIANCE, THE SAME YOUTH
FOOTBALL COALITION. COUNTLESS
YOUTH FOOTBALL ORGANIZATIONS AND
THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE. THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. HAVE
CONTINUED TO STAND UP AGAINST
WHAT WE COLLECTIVELY NOTE TO BE.
AN UNWARRANTED, DISCRIMINATORY
ATTEMPT TO BAN YOU TACKLE
FOOTBALL IN THE STATE WHILE
TRAMPLING PARENTAL RIGHTS. ALONG
THE WAY. 8034 ALIENATES
CONSTITUENTS. IT ATTEMPTS TO
UNRAVEL THE WORK OF THE
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE. VÆ
ASSEMBLY BUILT A B ONE THAT
YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT TODAY.
THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH FOOTBALL
ACT, AUTHORED BY CURRENT
SACRAMENTO SHERIFF AND FORMER
CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S JIM
COOPER. DURING TODAY'S
PROCEEDINGS, AND THIS IS
EXTREMELY KEY. YOU WILL HEAR
MEDICAL OPINIONS OFFERED BY THE
AUTHOR. AND THOSE TESTIFYING IN
SUPPORT OF A B 734. IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE FOLLOWING
THOSE OPINIONS ARE NOT
UNILATERALLY SHARED BY THE
MEDICAL COMMUNITY. THAT'S A FACT
YOU CAN POINT TO THE BILLS
ANALYSIS THAT WILL OUTLINE THAT
IN DETAIL. WE HAVE PROVIDED
MULTIPLE COMPREHENSIVE STUDIES
TO DEMONSTRATE VASTLY DIFFERENT
OUTCOMES AS BOTH SCIENCE AND
YOUTH TACKLE. FOOTBALL ARE
CONSTANTLY EVOLVING, AND I WOULD
POINT TO A B ONE AS A REFERENCE
TO THAT. I'M NOT A LEGISLATOR.
I'M NOT A PHD BUT I KNOW THE
FOLLOWING IT IS VITAL WHEN
INFORMING PUBLIC POLICY WITH
SIGNIFICANT RISK OF UNINTENDED
NEGATIVE OUTCOMES. THAT YOU HAVE
A CLEAR CLINICAL. I IN THIS
PROCESS THAT IS OUR COLLECTIVE
DUTY AS CALIFORNIANS. AS STATED
BY THE AUTHORS, MEDICAL
PANELISTS DURING THE
INFORMATIONAL HEARING THAT I HAD
THE PLEASURE OF TESTIFYING GAME
AND I QUOTE SCIENCE CANNOT TELL
US THE RIGHT AGE TO PLAY YOUTH
TACKLE FOOTBALL. UNQUOTE THAT
HAPPENED HERE. AT THE CAPITOL.
30 SECONDS RESPECTFULLY AS
CALIFORNIANS. AND AS YOU ALWAYS
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO ARE TASKED
WITH THIS TODAY, WE SHOULD BE
USING VITAL CALIFORNIA RESOURCES
TO UPLIFT. AND RALLY AROUND THE
CALIFORNIA YOUTH FOOTBALL ACT.
WITH THE HELP AND CONTINUED
WISDOM OF THE CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATOR. WE HAVE A REAL
OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE A B, ONE OF
THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE PIECE OF
LEGISLATIVE SAFETY MEASURE IN
THE COUNTRY. WE ASK YOU TODAY.
DO YOU STAND UP WITH
CALIFORNIANS WITH A VOTE OF NO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WITNESS. I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE MY FORMER COLLEAGUE.
REMEMBER JIM COOPER NOW, SHERIFF
COOPER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE AND TESTIFYING. GOOD
MORNING, MR CHAIR MEMBERS. GOOD
TO SEE YOU. ALL YOU SPORTS IS AN
ISSUE THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO
MY HEART. I RAISED CHILDREN WHO
GREW UP BENEFITING FROM THE LIFE
LESSONS THAT USE SPORTS PROVIDES
AN ASSEMBLY MAN I WROTE THAT'S A
LITTLE BIT SIMPLY BUILT ONE
WHICH ENSURED YOUTH TACKLE
FOOTBALL PROGRAMS IN CALIFORNIA
OR THE SAFEST IN THE COUNTRY AND
WAS LANDMARK LEGISLATION AND
SHERIFF. MY OFFICE IS EXTREMELY
INVOLVED IN YOUTH SPORTS
PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF
YOUTH WILL ALWAYS BE MY TOP
PRIORITY. THE CONFIDENCE MIDDLE
WELL BEING AND LIFE SKILLS
FOSTERED TO THE SPORT,
PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ARE
IMMEASURABLE FOR SOME
ADOLESCENTS. YOUTH TACKLE
FOOTBALL SERVES AS YOUR SOUL
SEARCHING SOURCE OF STRUCTURE.
OFFERING POSITIVE ROLE MODELS
AND GUIDING THEM 20 POSITIVE AND
PRODUCTIVE PATH. I PERSONALLY
WITNESSED NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS
FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
THAT SHOULD BE THEIR SUCCESS
LATER IN LIFE TO THE TOOLS
GAINED THROUGH YOUTH TACKLE
FOOTBALL UNDERSTAND THE PIVOTAL
ROLE YOUTH ACTIVITIES PLAYING,
KEEPING CHILDREN AWAY FROM THE
STREETS AND FROM GANGS, NOTABLY
BLACKMAIL CHILDREN. AND GIVING
YOU TACKLE FOOTBALL AT HIGHER
RATES THAN ANY OTHER RACE. TO MY
KNOWLEDGE. THERE HAS BEEN NO
PRESSURE LIMIT PARTICIPATION IN
LACROSSE. SOCCER OR ICE HOCKEY,
WHICH ALL HAVE CONCUSSION RATES.
SIMILAR YOUTH TACKLE FOOTBALL
BUT ARE PREVALENT AND MORE
FLUENT AND EXCLUSIVE
COMMUNITIES. THE LIFE LESSONS
ACQUIRED THROUGH YOUTH TACKLE
FOOTBALL OR MEASURABLE IS A
COMMUNITY IS SAFETY. IT'S FAMILY
. IT'S MENTORSHIP. IT SAVES
LIVES, ESPECIALLY FOR
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. FOR ME.
THESE PARTICIPANTS TACKLE
FOOTBALL, MAYBE THE ONLY PLACE
WHERE THERE IS STRUCTURE.
ELIMINATING YOUTH TACKLE
FOOTBALL WILL ALSO INCREASE THE
RISK OF INJURY TO YOUNG ADULTS
WHO CHOOSE TO PLAY AFTER THE
THIRD TURN, 13 PRODUCING PROPER
FORM AND TECHNIQUE IN YOU TACKLE
FOOTBALL, ESPECIALLY IN THE
EARLY AGE. WHEN PLAYERS EXHIBIT
LESS SPEED AND FORCE IS
INSTRUMENTAL IN PREVENTING
CONCUSSIONS DURING THE MID AND
LATE TEENAGE YEARS. LIKE ANY
OTHER SPORT, THE CHOICE OF
WHETHER OR NOT A CHILD SHOULD BE
ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN A
SPORT SHOULD COME DOWN TO THE
CHILD AND THEIR PARENTS. WE
SHOULD BE POURING RESOURCES INTO
OUR COMMUNITIES INSTEAD OF
RIPPING AWAY ONE MORE THING.
FLAG FOOTBALL. I WAS MENTIONED
HERE FLAG FOOTBALL PRACTICES AN
HOUR BEFORE THE GAME, THEY
PRACTICE ONE HOUR A WEEK. UH UM,
OBVIOUSLY, WITH YOUTH FOOTBALL
YOUR 3 TO 5 DAYS A WEEK, AND
IT'S NOT ALWAYS HITTING. THAT
WAS THE ESSENCE OF A B FIVE. I'M
SORRY. MAYBE ONE OF THE
LEGISLATION WITH THAT. UM THINK
ABOUT SOCCER. YOU CAN PLAY
SOCCER AT FOUR YEARS OF AGE. YOU
CAN PLAY THE CROSS AT 8.5 UNDER
EIGHT. SO THIS SAME LEAGUE SAME
ISSUE, SAYING PROBLEMS AND IT
REALLY COMES DOWN TO WE KNOW
WE'VE SEEN THE NUMBERS OF KIDS,
ESPECIALLY MINORITY KIDS THAT
ARE INVOLVED IN GANGS THAT ARE
INVOLVED IN DRUGS. THERE ARE TWO
THINGS IT'S DISCIPLINE. IT'S
MENTORSHIP HAVING A FATHER
FIGURE. THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE
KIDS DON'T HAVE A FATHER. SO
YOU'RE OUT THERE WITH COACHING
GETTING THAT FATHER FIGURE AND
THAT'S WHAT CHANGES IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT. WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE
IT. THESE KIDS COME FROM
UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS. OH POOR
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THAT IS ONE
THING IN THEIR LIFE. THAT THEY
HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO, AND
THAT CAN POSSIBLY CHANGE THEM.
IT IS IT IS A BIG ISSUE, AND IT
IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH ON
THE OTHER SIDE, BECAUSE SOME OF
THESE KIDS AND ESPECIALLY BEING
A LAW ENFORCEMENT 31 YEARS
CHOOSE GANGS CHOOSE DRUGS, THOSE
NEGATIVE INFLUENCES. WE HAVE A
CHANCE HERE. LIKE I SAID, MAYBE
ONE IS WHAT THREE YEARS OLD NOW?
YEAH THAT'S SO, REALLY. IT'S
TAKING EFFECT NOW. WE HAVEN'T
TALKED ABOUT THAT. SO I THINK
THE BILL IS PUT IN PLACE. UM MR
MCCARTY MCCARTY. HE LOVES
CHILDREN, 100% HE'S NOT AGAINST
CHILDREN THAT FOR A FACT HE
CARES ABOUT IT. BUT I THINK WE
CAN DO BETTER. MAYBE ONE IS
STILL WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH
AND IT IS THREE YEARS AND HERE
WE ARE CHANGING IT. SO I
RESPECTFULLY URGE YOUR YOUR NO
VOTE ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. SHERIFF COOPER FOR
YOUR TESTIMONY. UM APPRECIATE
ALL THE WITNESSES AT THIS TIME.
WE WANT TO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO
COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND
OPPOSITION OF ASSEMBLY BILL 734
YOU HAD AGAIN WANT TO ASK YOU TO
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME THE NAME
OF THE ORGANIZATION. IF YOU'RE
REPRESENTING AN ORGANIZATION AND
THAT YOU ARE OPPOSED THIS
TESTIMONY IS FOR OPPOSITION. UM
AND SO WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE IN
THE ON THE OUTSIDE THE WISHING
TO GET IN, SO OUR SERGEANTS WILL
HAVE YOU AND DIRECT YOU OUT THE
DOOR SO THAT OTHERS CAN COME IN
THE DOOR AND TO GIVE THEIR
TESTIMONY AS WELL. SO PLEASE
STATE, YOUR NAME ORGANIZATION.
STEVE FAR, MIANO SAVE YOU.
FOOTBALL. CALIFORNIA COALITION
NO ONE A B 734. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. JR RETIRED TRIP ELDORADO
COUNTY. UH I'M THE COMMISSIONER.
THE SACRAMENTO YOUTH FOOTBALL
LEAGUE REPRESENTING OVER 9300
FAMILIES RANGING FROM VENETIA TO
THE OREGON BORDER. I RISE IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL. THANK
YOU. MY NAME IS AARON BURR, OAK
VATS. I'M FROM BISHOP,
CALIFORNIA. I REPRESENT BISHOP,
YOUTH FOOTBALL AND CHEERLEADING.
THE PRESIDENT AND I AM A NO ON A
B 734. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
JOSEPH TREMBLE AND THE
COMMISSIONER THIS YEAR ATHLETIC
CONFERENCE IN THE GREATER
SACRAMENTO AREA REPRESENT 2500
PLUS FAMILIES IN THE AREA WERE
STRONGLY OPPOSED TO MAYBE 7
34TH. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DAN
DONNELLY, MY COACH FOR ELDORADO
HILLS OAKRIDGE JUNIOR CHILDREN'S
PROGRAM WHERE MY SON PLAYS
STRONG OPPOSITION. MCCARTHY'S
BILL THANK YOU. NICOLE YOUNG
PLASTER COUNTY CHAPTER CHAIR
MOMS FOR LIBERTY, ALSO THE
CALIFORNIA COALITION LEGISLATIVE
CHAIR FOR MOMS FOR LIBERTY,
CALIFORNIA AND STRONG
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. HI MY
NAME IS ASHLEY BERTRAM. I AM A
BOARD MEMBER OF UNION MIND
JUNIOR RATTLERS. MY CHILDREN
HAVE PLAYED FOR OLDEST. NINE
YEARS NOW. I'VE BEEN TEEN MOM
FOR EVERY TEAM. UM AND I HAVE A
SEVEN YEAR OLD HERE AND WE ARE
STRONGLY AGAINST 730. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. JUST YOUR NAME
ORGANIZATION. HI MY NAME IS
ERICA TYLER. AND THIS IS MY SON,
BARRY TYLER. WE ARE WITH THE
UNION MIND JUNIOR RATTLERS, AND
WE WOULD LIKE TO A VOICE OUR
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL. THANK
YOU. HI MY NAME IS DANIEL
SELLERS. AND I AM A MOTHER OF
TWO SONS WHO PLAY FOOTBALL. I AM
AN ADAPTED PE SPECIALIST UM AND
STATE OF CALIFORNIA OF 30 YEARS
AND I AM VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
12 BRIDGES, JUNIOR RHINOS
FOOTBALL AND CHEER PROGRAM AND
WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON IMUS.
PERRY SELLERS AND I PLAY FOR THE
TOLL BRIDGES. JUNIOR AH, NOSE
AND I POST THANK YOU. HI MY NAME
IS BLAKE. ROLAND AND I OPPOSE
MAYBE 30 87TH 734 AND I'VE LIVED
WITH THE JUNIOR WRITERS. THANK
YOU. DAVID HALLER. I REPRESENT
THE LINCOLN JUNIOR ZEBRAS WE
OPPOSE. MAYBE 734. THANK YOU.
HELLO MY NAME IS CHRISTINE
KASTNER AND I OPPOSED A B 734. I
AM A CHAIR, FOOTBALL. NANA. FOR
THE JUNIOR LINCOLN. ZERO REST.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ASHLEY
SINCLAIR. AND I AM A PROUD
PARENT OF TWO JUNIOR BRUIN
FOOTBALL PLAYERS. AND I OPPOSE
THIS BILL. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
DARREN STALL ON THE MEMBER OF S
E I U LOCAL 1000 DISTRICT LABOR
COUNCIL 761. AND I AM A
INDEPENDENT ORGANIZER FOR THE
DLC. I'M ALSO A LONGTIME HIGH
SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH, YOUTH
FOOTBALL COACH AND YOUTH FLIGHT
FOOTBALL COACH. I URGE A NO VOTE
ON THIS BILL AS IT DOES NOT SEND
A GOOD MESSAGE TO SUPPORT PARENT
RIGHTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, BRIAN BOYS, BEAR
RIVER JUNIOR BRUINS AND GRASS
VALLEY. I OPPOSED THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. I'M SAM VOICE I PLAY
FOR MARY VIRGINIA BRUINS, AND I
STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL. THANK
YOU. JAKE BROCK. I PLAY FOR
BEIRA. VIRGINIA. BRUNS. I OPPOSE
THIS BILL. THANK YOU. HELLO MY
NAME IS ZAK REPLICA. I'VE BEEN A
BOARD MEMBER AND A COACH FOR THE
UNIVERSITY JUNIOR HONKERS FOR
THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND I'M
HERE TO URGE OPPOSITION TO THIS
BILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. MY NAME IS DAVID SINCLAIR.
UH VERY VIRGINIA BRUINS COACH
SEVERAL KIDS IN THE PROGRAM.
SOMEONE WHO'S FOOTBALL'S SAVED
MY LIFE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I
OPPOSE THIS BILL. BECAUSE IT'S
SINGLE HANDEDLY EXCLUDES KIDS
WHOSE MOMMIES AND DADDIES DIDN'T
HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO TO WHOLE
FOODS TO FEED THEM HEALTHY, SO
THEY CARRY EXTRA POUNDS, AND
THEY GET TO BE A LINEMAN. ONLY
SPORT THAT'S AVAILABLE. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. NAME AND
ORGANIZATION, PLEASE. I AM
JACKSON, CLAIRE AND I PLAY FOR
BEARS THE JUNIOR BRUINS. AND I
POST THIS BILL. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I WILL INVITE THOSE WHO
ARE OUTSIDE INSIDE WERE THEIR
TESTIMONY. NAME AND
ORGANIZATION. MY NAME IS GRACE
AND SINCLAIR. I'M A BEAR
VIRGINIA BROWN. AND THAT'S WHY
ALL STAR I OPPOSE THIS BILL.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ASHLEY
SMALL RIDGE WITH WHAT? GREEK
JUNIOR TIMBERWOLVES AND THE
PRESIDENT. I'M ALSO A CHEER. MOM
DON'T HAVE A FOOTBALL PLAYER,
BUT I OPPOSE. THANK YOU. GOOD
EVENING COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS DR
ROSS. I AM HERE REPRESENTING
AMERICAN YOUTH FOOTBALL, THE
LARGEST YOUTH FOOTBALL
ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD. AND I
OPPOSE THIS BILL. TREMENDOUSLY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
NAME AND ORGANIZATION POSITION.
MY NAME IS JULIE CASSIUS. I'M
WITH THE WOOD CREEK JUNIOR
TIMBER WALLS AND I OPPOSE THANK
YOU. MY NAME IS ASIA GRANT WITH
REAL LINDA JUNIOR KNIGHTS AND I
OPPOSE THANK YOU. MY NAME IS BEN
. IT'S TURBO TIME FROM THE 12
VIRGIN JUNIOR RONALD CAPONE'S
THANK YOU. HOW MY NAME IS RILEY
HURLEY FROM THE JUNIOR RHINOS
AND I POSE THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
DEVIN HURLEY FROM THE 12
BRIDGES, JUNIOR RHINOS AND I
OPPOSE. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
LILY HURLEY FROM THE TOP
BRIDGES, JUNIOR HONORS AND I
OPPOSE. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
MASON STARBUCK FROM THE JUNIOR
RHINOS AND I OPPOSE THANK YOU.
HI MY NAME IS CHASE WYCKOFF
FOOTBALL FOR EIGHT YEARS AND I
STRONGLY OPPOSED THANK YOU.
NAME. ORGANIZATION IF YOU'RE
REPRESENTING ORGANIZATION AND
POSITION CHINAGLIA GRANITE
BEIJING YOUR GRIZZLIES AND WE
OPPOSE. THANK YOU. NEXT WITNESS.
YES. HI CASEY EATEN BAKED
GRIZZLIES AND WE OPPOSE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU FOR LETTING US
UH, SAY HELLO THIS MORNING. MY
NAME IS ANDREW CHINAGLIA FROM
THE PRESIDENT OF THE GRANITE BAY
JUNIOR GRIZZLY PROGRAM. I HOPE
THAT YOU WILL STRONGLY CONSIDER
NOT REDUCING THIS. I THINK THE
BENEFITS OUTWEIGH SIGNIFICANTLY
THE RISKS AND NOT WITH
DISCOUNTING THEM. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ARE YOU
GUYS DOING? MY NAME IS LORENZO
WALSH AND I'M WITH THE CONSUMER
YOURSELVES JUNIOR WORK PACK AND,
UH, I'M OPPOSED. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. UM. HI MY NAME IS J. J. D.
S ON. I RUN THE NY FL OF ABOUT
3500 KIDS. UM AND THE GRIDIRON
BULLDOGS OF ABOUT 300 KIDS, SO I
OPPOSE THE BAND. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. MY NAME IS ROBERT TYLER
AND I PLAY FOR THE JUNIOR
RATTLERS. AND I OPPOSE THIS
BILL. THANK YOU. THIS IS CYRUS
ALLEN. AND MY NAME IS MAGGIE
ALLEN AND WE OPPOSE THE BILL. WE
PLAY FOR BEAR RIVER JUNIOR
BRUINS AND GRASS VALLEY. THANK
YOU. MIKE ALLEN CO CHAPTER RIVER
. THAT WAS MY SON AND I OPPOSE
THIS BILL AS WELL. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THAT'S IT ALSO I
THINK I'LL CLOSE THIS OUT. RON
WHITE, THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH
FOOTBALL ALLIANCE, ALSO GOLDEN
EMPIRE YOUTH FOOTBALL IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY ONCE AGAIN, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND WE
STRONGLY OPPOSE A B 730. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. CHART REPORT.
GRANITE BAY GRIZZLY PROGRAM I
STRONGLY OPPOSES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S IT.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT.
WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THE
AUTHOR OF THE BILL. AT THIS
TIME. YES, MR LACKEY, PLEASE.
YEAH THANK YOU. UM I DON'T
REALLY HAVE QUESTIONS. I HAVE
MORE. JUST SOME COMMENTS THAT I
THINK ARE WORTH CONSIDERING. I
ASSUME, REMEMBER. WHILE I'M
PLEASED TO HAVE AN INCREASED
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK MORE CLOSELY
WITH YOU THIS YEAR. WHEN IT
COMES TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE,
WE PROBABLY COULDN'T BE FURTHER
APART. UM COMMUNITIES THAT I
GREW UP IN AND THAT I CURRENTLY
REPRESENT. TACKLE FOOTBALL IS
NOT MERELY AN AMERICAN PASTIME.
IT'S A CENTRAL OCCURRENCE. THAT
TIES CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITIES
TOGETHER AND INTEGRATES THE
SURROUNDING AREAS. IN SPORTS.
THE OUTCOME IS PREDOMINANTLY
DETERMINED BY MERIT AND
TRAINING. WHICH MAKES OTHER
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES. IN
LIFE, FOLLOWED BY THE WAYSIDE
DURING THESE COMPETITIONS. THE
PARENTS AND COACHES INVOLVED IN
THESE SPORTS LOVE THE CHILDREN
PARTICIPATING IN THEM. AND
THAT'S WHY THEY WANT THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH THEM
ABOUT MENTORSHIP. TEAMWORK
DISCIPLINE. AND THEIR SELF
IMAGE. I TRUST THEM TO KNOW WHAT
IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF
THEIR CHILDREN. WHILE HELPING
THEM PURSUE THEIR PASSION. FEW
OF WHICH COME WITH NO RISK. I'VE
PARTICIPATED IN FLAG FOOTBALL
AND I PARTICIPATED IN TACKLE
FOOTBALL. THEY'RE DIFFERENT.
THEY'RE NOT THE SAME. IF WE
BANNED THIS SPORT, WE TAKE AWAY
THE OPPORTUNITY. AND MANY
OPPORTUNITIES FROM CHILDREN TO
GROW NOT ONLY AS AN ATHLETE BUT
AS A SELF ACTUALIZED ADULT WHO
KNOWS THAT WHEN THEY HAVE THE
CAPABILITIES TO OVERCOME AN
OBSTACLE AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS.
FURTHER WE TAKE AWAY A LIFELONG
PASSION FOR THE LOVE OF THE
GAME. SOME GOOD THINGS HAVE
HAPPENED IN THE RECENT PAST, AND
I DON'T DISMISS THE CONCERN. CTE
IS REAL. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT
WE SHOULD TAKE SERIOUSLY AND WE
SHOULD ADAPT OUR BEHAVIORS AND I
THINK A B ONE WHICH WAS
SPONSORED BY. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
COOK ROBERT COOPER, WHO SPOKE
EARLIER. AS A GOOD PROGRESS
TOWARDS THAT WE EVEN HAVE IT AT
THE NFL. WHERE TARGETING THERE'S
NO LONGER PERMISSIBLE SO WE'RE
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BUT TO THROW THE BABY OUT WITH
THE BATHWATER, AS THEY SAY, OR
WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS WE'RE
ROBBING YOUTH OF WAY MORE THAN
RISK WHEN WE DO THIS, AND FOR
THAT REASON I CANNOT SUPPORT
THIS MEASURE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. UM I DON'T KNOW IF MR
MCCARTHY WANTS TO RESPOND OR SAY
ANYTHING REGARDING THAT. ANY
OTHER MEMBERS WISHING VICE CHAIR
WALLACE THANK YOU, MR CHAIR THAT
THIS IS A TOUGH ONE FOR ME. UH,
WE HAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION AND
PASSION FROM BOTH SIDES ON THIS
ISSUE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE AUTHOR'S WORK ON HIS BILL
AND SHEDDING LIGHT ON ISSUES
RELATED TO RISKS OF YOU'VE HAD
INJURIES. I PLAYED POP WARNER
FOOTBALL FROM STARTING AT THE
AGE OF EIGHT PLAYED FOOTBALL
THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, AND IT
REALLY WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF
MY PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS
BILL ACTUALLY GAVE ME THE CHANCE
TO REACH OUT TO MY OLD HIGH
SCHOOL COACH TALKED TO HIM ABOUT
IT AT LENGTH AND HE SAID, YOU
KNOW, GREG, IT'S A DIFFERENT
SPORT THAN WHEN YOU PLAYED. HE
TOLD ME THE EMPHASIS IS ON
SAFETY TODAY AT ALL LEVELS FROM
YOUTH TO THE NFL AND TALKED
ABOUT DIFFERENT STRATEGIES THEY
USE WHEN TEACHING KIDS HOW TO
TACKLE AND PLAY THE GAME. YEAH I
ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
HARM KIDS FACE EVERY DAY.
SKATEBOARDING HOCKEY SKIING,
BICYCLING, ICE SKATING. EVERY
SPORT OR ACTIVITY HAS AN
INHERENT DANGER AND I CAN
SUPPORT THINGS LIKE REQUIRING
TRAINING FOR ADULTS COACHING THE
SPORT ELEMENT RULES AND
EQUIPMENT MODIFICATIONS. BUT
THIS BILL EVENTUALLY LEADS TO AN
OUTRIGHT BAN FOR TACKLE FOOTBALL
FOR KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 12,
JUST SIGNAL SINGLING OUT THAT
ONE SPORT I'M ALSO PERSUADED BY
THE ARGUMENTS MADE BY OPPONENTS
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
LESSONS LEARNED ABOUT PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL HEALTH AND TEAMWORK,
PARTICULARLY FOR KIDS AND
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. CLEARLY
THERE'S MERITS TO BOTH SIDES OF
THIS THIS DEBATE AND AGAIN
COMMEND THE AUTHOR FOR HIS
PASSION ON THIS ISSUE. FOR THAT
ALONE. I WISH I COULD SUPPORT
IT. HOWEVER I'M GOING TO BE A
NO. TODAY WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO
BE VIGILANT ON ISSUES ABOUT
YOUTH SAFETY WITHOUT SINGLING
OUT JUST ONE ACTIVITY, BUT
REALLY, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES. PLEASE.
REMEMBER VALENCIA. THANK YOU, MR
CHAIR. ALL. PREFIX MY COMMENTS
WITH A LITTLE BIT OF MY
EXPERIENCE AND I'M COMING AT
THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE THROUGH
THE LAND THAT EXPERIENCE OF A
FOOTBALL. FANATIC. A STUDENT OF
THE GAME. A FORMER JUNIOR
COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH. AND
DIVISION ONE FOOTBALL PLAYER.
I'M TORN WHEN IT COMES TO THIS
SPECIFIC ISSUE. THE BENEFIT THAT
FOOTBALL HAS HAD IN PARTICULAR
TO MY LIFE. AH I CANNOT PUT A
MONETARY AMOUNT ON IT, AND I
THINK THAT GOES TO SAY FOR MANY,
MANY ATHLETES ACROSS THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. THE CHALLENGE
WITH THAT, THOUGH, IS WITH THE
DATA HAS SHOWN. AND THE PHYSICAL
IMPACT THAT THIS SPORT HAS ON
THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
I APPRECIATE OUR COLLEAGUES
COMMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE
SAFETY MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTED. TO ENSURE THAT
WE'RE MOVING IN A SAFER
DIRECTION WHEN IT COMES TO
TACKLE FOOTBALL. YET WHETHER
IT'S AT THE NFL LEVEL THE
DIVISION ONE LEVEL OR EVEN HIGH
SCHOOL. PRACTICES ARE NOW BEING
HELD. IN A LESS PHYSICAL MANNER,
WHETHER IT'S IN SHELLS, WHETHER
IT'S WALK THROUGHS OR EVEN
SUMMER LEAGUES HAVING FLAG
FOOTBALL. AND THERE'S ONLY ONE
ANSWER TO THAT REASON AND
QUESTION. IT'S BECAUSE IT IS A
VERY DANGEROUS AND VIOLENT
SUPPORT. THERE'S NO IF ANDS OR
BUTS ABOUT THAT THAT'S NOT TO
SAY. INDIVIDUALS SHOULD NOT HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY THAT
SPORT. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GO BACK TO SANITY STATE WHERE I
PLAYED FOOTBALL. UH THIS LAST
YEAR, AND THEN I WAS STANDING ON
THE SIDELINE. UM UM 34 NOW AND
THINKING BACK TO 12 YEARS AGO
WHEN I WAS ON THAT FIELD I COULD
NOT FATHOM STEPPING ON THAT
FOOTBALL FIELD TODAY, AND OF
COURSE, IT'S A MUCH HIGHER
LEVEL. BUT THE IMPACT AND THE
SPEED. AND THE PHYSICAL DEMAND
THAT THAT SUPPORT TAKES IS
EXTREMELY IMPACTFUL. AND WE DO
NOT KNOW WE NOW KNOW THROUGH THE
SCIENCE, THE IMPACT THAT THAT
TYPE OF PHYSICALITY HAS ON
PEOPLE LONG TERM. AND I CAN'T
WITH A CONSCIOUS HEART. S¼ AND
DENY. THAT'S THE DATA THAT WE
SEE HERE TODAY AND HAVE SEEN
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
IT'S NOT WARRANTED. AH, SO I
THINK THE PHASED APPROACH AND
THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO PLAY
FOOTBALL. AH, AT A YOUNG AGE.
THROUGH FLAG FOOTBALL. AH, IS
NOT AN IDEAL. APPROACH IT'S NOT
THE PERFECT APPROACH, BUT I
THINK IT'S THE BEST APPROACH TO
ENSURE THAT YOUNG INDIVIDUALS IN
CALIFORNIA HAVE A CHANCE TO PLAY
AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. AND
NOT HAVE THEIR CAREERS CUT
SHORT. TECHNIQUE. IS MUCH
DIFFERENT THAN ATHLETICISM.
TECHNIQUE CAN BE TAUGHT. AND THE
ARGUMENT MAY SOME OF THE
ARGUMENTS MADE HERE ABOUT THE
DEVELOPMENT IN ATHLETICISM
THROUGH TACKLING. I FRANKLY
DISAGREE. AND BECAUSE OF THAT. I
WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE BILL
TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ANY OTHER COMMITTEE
MEMBERS WISHING TO SAY ANYTHING.
RIGHT OKAY. I WANT TO ASK THE
CHAIR. THE AUTHOR QUESTION. UM
CAN YOU PLEASE ARTICULATE? UM
ONE? WHAT THIS BILL ACTUALLY
DOES. FOR THE EDIFICATION OF
THOSE WHO HAVE SPOKEN, UM AS
WITNESSES, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO
BE SOME CONFUSION IN TERMS OF
DOING AWAY WITH UH, FOOTBALL FOR
OUR YOUTH. THAT'S ONE QUESTION.
UM THEN THE SECOND QUESTION I
WOULD ALSO HAVE FOR YOU IF YOU
CAN ARTICULATE FOR US. WHY DID
YOU COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT
YOU'VE COME TO BRING A SIMILAR
BILL 734 BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE
CHAIR? UM I'LL TRY TO BE CONCISE
, AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME OTHER
ISSUES HERE, TOO. WHAT THIS BILL
DOES IS THAT'S RULES FOR YOUNG
KIDS PLAYING FOOTBALL, JUST LIKE
WE HAVE FOR SOCCER, BUT YOU
CAN'T HEAD BEFORE A CERTAIN AGE
IN CALIFORNIA. IN HOCKEY. YOU
CAN'T CHECK BEFORE CERTAIN AGES
SAYS FOR OUR YOUNGEST KIDS, YOU
CAN PLAY FOOTBALL. FLAG UNDER
12/12. YOU CAN START HAVING
CONTACT TO PROTECT KIDS BRAINS.
IT SETS A STANDARD THAT GOING
FORWARD AFTER FIVE YEARS. I
BELIEVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS IT WOULD BE PHASED IN
SO CURRENT KIDS THAT WE SAW HERE
TESTIFY. WE WILL NOT TAKE AWAY
WHAT THEY CURRENTLY PLAY BUT
GOING FORWARD BECAUSE OF THE
RESEARCH, OUR YOUNGEST KIDS
WOULD START PLAYING FOOTBALL AT
A YOUNGER AGE OF FLAG AND THEN
BE ABLE TO GRADUATE AT THE AGE
OF 12. ONCE THEY REACH PUBERTY,
AND THEIR BODIES AND BRAINS ARE
MORE DEVELOPED TO PLAY TACKLE
FOOTBALL. WE WOULD STILL HAVE
THE SAME RULES UNDER A B ONE,
WHICH I THINK ARE POSITIVE IN
CALIFORNIA TO SET THE NUMBER OF
HOURS YOU PRACTICE TO HAVE MORE
ATHLETIC TRAINERS AND
PROFESSIONALISM IN THE SPORT.
THAT WOULD BE THOSE WOULD BE THE
RULES OF THE ROAD FOR KIDS, 12
AND OVER PLAYING YOUTH TACKLE
FOOTBALL, AND I THINK YOUR OTHER
QUESTION UM WHY IS THAT EVERY
YEAR. MORE AND MORE RESEARCH
COMES OUT. MORE AND MORE
FAMILIES AND TRAGEDIES SHARE
THESE STORIES. AND THIS IS A
TOUGH DECISION. I HAVE
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR
MY COLLEAGUE FROM ANAHEIM, WHO
GRAPPLED WITH THIS FOR MONTHS.
HE PLAYED THE HIGHEST LEVEL. HE
DIDN'T QUITE SAY HE ACTUALLY
PLAYED IN THE NFL FOR A SUMMER.
SO NO ONE ELSE HERE HAS PLAYED
IN THE NFL. THIS GENTLEMAN DID
AND HE KNOWS THE IMPACTS OF THIS
AND THIS IS A TOUGH CHOICE,
TELLING PARENTS WHAT THEY CAN
AND CAN'T DO. BUT EVERY ONCE IN
A WHILE GOVERNMENT STEPS UP AND
SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT? KIDS
SHOULDN'T SMOKE? KIDS SHOOTING
HAVE A FIREARM. KIDS SHOULD WEAR
SEAT BELTS WHEN WE KNOW WE
PROTECT KIDS. THIS IS A TOUGH
ONE, BECAUSE THERE IS NO SMOKING
GUN OF EVIDENCE LIKE THERE WAS
FOR TOBACCO. YOU ONLY FIND OUT
SOMEBODY HAS CTE WHEN THEY'RE
DEAD. AND THEIR BRAIN GOES AND
GETS AN AUTOPSY, WHICH IS WHY
KIDS AND PLAYERS ARE COMMITTING
SUICIDE SHOOTING THEMSELVES IN
THE HEART SO THEIR BRAINS CAN BE
EVALUATED. SO THAT'S THAT'S THE
TRUTH. HERE WE HAVE MEDICAL
PROVIDERS WHO HAVE DIFFERENT
OPINIONS. BELIEVE ME, JUST TELL
YOU THIS THE TOBACCO LAWYERS.
AND THE TOBACCO DOCTORS WERE
PAID BECAUSE THEY HAD AN
INTEREST. OF COURSE, THE
FOOTBALL DOCTORS ARE GOING TO
SAY IT'S SAFE. BUT THE DOCTORS
WHO DON'T REPRESENT ANYBODY WHO
JUST STUDY THIS ARE TESTIFYING
WITH ME TODAY, SAYING THIS
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR OUR
YOUNGEST KIDS. THE CALIFORNIA
FAMILY DOCTORS ASSOCIATION, THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATIVE NEUROLOGY
. THEY'RE SAYING THIS PROTECTS
KIDS AND HUMAN LIFE, AND IT DOES
MAKE SENSE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE
THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND
REGULATE. SO FOR THOSE REASONS,
AND, UM WITH APPRECIATION ON
THIS IS A VERY TOUGH AND COMPLEX
ISSUE, TOO. SOMETIMES. TELL
PARENTS WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T
DO. AND LOOK, I KNOW THESE FOLKS
OUT HERE. LOVE KIDS, LOVE USE
SPORTS. I'VE MET WITH THESE TWO
GENTLEMEN OVER HERE FOR SEVEN
YEARS NOW. WE DON'T AGREE ON
THIS, BUT WE DO AGREE THAT THAT
KIDS. KIDS UNDER 18. 50% OF THE
PRESENT. BUT 100% OF THE FUTURE.
SO WE NEED KIDS TO BE HEALTHY.
WE NEED KIDS TO HAVE
ALTERNATIVES LIKE THE COOPER
SAID. IN MATTERS I GREW UP HERE
IN SACRAMENTO IN A SINGLE PARENT
FAMILY. TO MY BROTHERS WENT TO
JUVENILE HALL. I GOT LUCKY I
NEVER GOT CAUGHT. I ENDED UP
BEING ASSEMBLY MEMBER. WHAT
WHAT? WHAT DID I DO TO KEEP KEEP
MYSELF STEADY SPORTS AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAMS, BASEBALL
FOOTBALL. MY BROTHER WAS IN A
WRESTLING. ACTIVITIES KEPT US SO
I BELIEVE IN ACTIVITIES AND USE
SPORTS AND THERE IS A SAFE
ALTERNATIVE HERE. KIDS CAN DO
THAT AND PLAY OTHER SPORTS AND
STILL HAVE ALL THE GREAT THINGS
YOU LEARN ABOUT TEAMWORK,
COMPETITION AND SO FORTH. THIS
IS ABOUT SAVING KIDS KEEPING
KIDS SAFE. AND I THINK THAT, UM
YOU FOCUS ON THE PROTECTION OF
HUMAN LIFE AND OUR FUTURE. UM IS
SHOULD BE ALWAYS AT THE
FOREFRONT. AND WITH THAT,
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
ADVICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND
THANK YOU FOR EXPANDING ON YOUR
RESPONSE TO ME. FIRSTLY I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK A SIMILAR MEMBER
MCCARTHY FOR BRINGING FORWARD
THIS ISSUE BEFORE THIS
COMMITTEE. I KNOW THAT HE HAS
WORKED ON THIS BILL RELATED TO
YOUTH TACKLING FOOTBALL, UM, ON
A NUMBER OF TIMES THROUGHOUT THE
OVER THE YEARS. CLEARLY FOOTBALL
IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR
SPORTS, UH, STATEWIDE AS WELL AS
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA. IT TAKES UM
MUCH COURAGE TO INTRODUCE AN
IDEAL THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED
UNPOPULAR. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE
GOAL IS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH
AND SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN
ENGAGE IN SPORTS. MY HEART GOES
OUT TO THE FAMILIES. OF LOVED
ONES OF FORMER PLAYERS WHO HAVE
DEVELOPED CTE, ESPECIALLY
ESPECIALLY THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF
THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE THEIR
OWN LIVES AS A RESULT OF THEIR
CONDITION. NO PARENT SHOULD EVER
. HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT THOSE
PARENTS AND THIS PARENT WHO
TESTIFIED, UM, ABOUT HER SON HAD
TO GO THROUGH. PARENTS DESERVE
TO HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION
BEFORE SIGNING WAIVERS AND
ALLOWING THEIR CHILDREN TO PLAY
A SPORT WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF
RISK. THEY SHOULD HEAR FROM THE
AUTHOR PERSPECTIVE AND THE
BILL'S SUPPORTERS BEFORE
ALLOWING OR ENCOURAGING THEIR
KIDS. TO PLAY FOOTBALL AT AN
EARLY AGE. BASED ON THE
INFORMATION PRESENTED I STILL
HAVE MANY QUESTIONS. ABOUT THE
RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE YOUTH
TACKLING FOOTBALL. THE
TESTIMONIES OF THIS BILL
SUPPORTERS. AND THE DATA
PRESENTED HAVE BEEN UNDER, UM,
COMPELLED TO, UM TO SHOW
DIFFERENT EVIDENCE THAT LINKS
CHILDREN FROM 5 TO 12 YEARS OLD
PLAYING TACKLE FOOTBALL TO CTE
IS STILL INCONCLUSIVE. THERE IS
NO WAY TO KNOW HOW MANY YOUTH
TACKLING FOOTBALL PARTICIPANTS
WILL GO THROUGH AND DEVELOP CTE.
WE ALSO JUST DON'T KNOW IF THERE
COULD BE, UM OTHER FACTORS AT
PLAY HERE, SUCH AS GENETICS
BUMPS TO THE HEAD OFF OF THE
PLAYING FIELD. UM BUT I WANT TO
PAUSE HERE WE'VE SEEN EVEN LAST
YEAR. A YOUNG MAN WHO GOT HIT IN
THE HEAD, AND EVERYONE THOUGHT
THAT HE WOULD SURVIVE. UM AND
THIS YOUNG MAN PASSED AWAY. THE
PARENTS HAD TO BE TOLD THAT
AGAIN. HE WAS HIT WITH A
BASEBALL BAT. BUT I'M SAYING
THEIR RISK. AND THERE IS STILL A
LOT TO BE DISCOVERED WHEN IT
COMES DOWN TO KNOWLEDGE,
FOOTBALL, BUT OTHER SPORTS THAT
BEING SAID FOOTBALL AND
ORGANIZATIONAL, UM SPORTS IN
GENERAL ARE CLEARLY PROVEN WAYS
TO KEEP KIDS OUT OF TROUBLE. AND
LET ME UNDERSCORE THIS THAT
SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN WATTS MY
DADDY WAS A TRUCK DRIVER WHO
WORKED CONTINUOUSLY AND MY
MOTHER. DID DOMESTIC WORK. SO
WHEN I GOT OUT OF SCHOOL UH, IT
WAS CERTAINLY, UM AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMS AND THOSE AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMS WERE, IN FACT FOOTBALL,
THE SPORTS THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT TODAY, BASEBALL AND ALIKE.
VOLUNTEER PARENTS CAME THERE TO
MAKING SURE WE HAD A SAFE SPACE
WE LEARNED UM, TEAMWORK WE
LEARNED WE LEARNED SKILL,
DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SKILLS.
WE LEARN DISCIPLINE. AND THAT'S
WHAT THIS BILL THIS BILL IS NOT
TAKING AWAY THAT ABILITY. IT'S
SIMPLY SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING
TO MOVE, UH, FROM TACKLE
FOOTBALL TO FLAG FOOTBALL, AND
WE CAN STILL HAVE THE SAME, UM,
LEARNING EXPERIENCES. SAME SAFE
SPACES. UM AS WE DO TODAY, THE
COMMITTEE PASSED ASSEMBLY BILL
ONE. BY MR COOPER. REMEMBER JIM
COOPER IN 2019 IN ORDER TO
IMPROVE ATHLETES, A SAFETY? UM
BUT AFFECT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
THOSE WHO ARE IN THIS PARTICULAR
SPORTS IN ORDER TO COLLECT DATA
AND TO HAVE A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING CLEARLY MORE
INFORMATION. AND INJURIES
REPORTING UM BY YOUTH FOOTBALL
LEAGUE IS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED. UM,
IN IT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NFL
RIGHT NOW, UM, THEY HAVE PUT
PROTOCOLS IN PLACE TO MAKING
SURE THAT PLAYERS ARE NOT
INJURED, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO
BE SUFFERING FROM CTE, E AND
OTHER DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT
THEY'RE MAKING A HUGE
INVESTMENT. AND THEN VESTMENT,
EVEN IN HELMETS, HELMETS COST
SOMEWHERE ABOUT $5000. AND I
KNOW THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
COMMUNITY SPORTS THAT'S
EXPENSIVE FOR COMMUNITIES AND
TEAMS TO AFFORD, BUT THE
TECHNOLOGY OF HELMETS ARE
PROTECTING THOSE ATHLETES IN THE
GAME OF FOOTBALL, AND I KNOW
THAT COMMUNITIES WHO ARE
STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET
COMMUNITIES JUST DON'T HAVE THAT
ABILITY. AND THE COST AND THE
MONEY AND THE RESOURCES TO DO
THE SAME THING TO NFL. UM IS NOW
DOING UM, AS THE CHAIR OF THIS
COMMITTEE. I BELIEVE THIS BILL
HAS MERIT AND DESERVE. TO BE
DISCUSSED AND DEBATED BY THE
FULL BODY, UM, ON THE FLOOR OF
THE STATE ASSEMBLY, AND SO IF
THIS BILL IS A FACT PASSED OUT
UH, THIS BILL WILL GO TO THE
FLOOR OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY. SO
THIS IS NOT THE LAST. UM THE
LAST STAGE OF THIS PROCESS. SO
THIS BILL IS PASSED OUT TODAY.
IT GOES BEFORE THE FULL BODY OF
THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY.
UM AND MEMBERS WHO REPRESENT
YOUR COMMUNITIES. YOU CAN ALSO
REACH OUT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS
WERE EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERN AND
SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO THIS
PARTICULAR BILL. THE AUTHOR HAS
ALREADY ACCEPTED THE COMMITTEE'S
AMENDMENTS, AND WE WANT TO THANK
THE MR MCCARTHY FOR ACCEPTING
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS. AT
THIS TIME, I WILL ENTERTAIN A
MOTION. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY A
CIVIL. REMEMBER SANTIAGO. DO I
HEAR A SECOND? I STILL REMEMBER
VALENCIA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR SECOND. SECONDING THE
MOTION. THIS MOTION IS A DO PASS
AS AMENDED, UM TO THE ASSEMBLY.
UM, THIRD READING. I WOULD ASK,
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE OPEN AND
CALL THE ROAD. GIBSON BEFORE WE
DO THAT, I MUST GIVE THE AUTHOR
OPPORTUNITY. ALREADY CLOSED
ALREADY CLOSED. THANK YOU, MADAM
SECRETARY. GIBSON I WALLACE
WALLACE. NO, FONG. FOLLOWING I
LACKEY LUCKY. NO MAKIN, ER WE
CAN, ER I SANTIAGO. SANTIAGO I
VALENCIA. LET'S SEE HOW I HMM?
THAT BILL. THAT BILL IS OUT 5 TO
2. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
THEIR TESTIMONY TODAY. UM AND
THIS COMMITTEE IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CONGRATULATIONS.