SECTION 1: Section 7 of Chapter 90, as appearing in the 1998 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the entire sentence beginning with the word “Every” in line 141 and ending with the words “head gear” in line 147. SECTION 2: Section 7 of Chapter 90 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding at the end of said section the following new paragraph: Every person operating a motorcycle or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle or in a sidecar attached to a motorcycle shall wear protective head gear conforming with such minimum standards of construction and performance as the registrar may prescribe, and no person operating a motorcycle shall permit any other person to ride as a passenger on such motorcycle or in a sidecar attached to such motorcycle unless such passenger is wearing such protective head gear, except that no protective head gear shall be required if the motorcyclist is participating in a properly permitted public parade and is 18 years of age or older, or a nonresident motorcyclist or passenger of a motorcycle that is registered in a state that does not require persons to wear a motorcycle helmet while operating a motorcycle.