SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2892

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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SENATE, June 9, 2022.

The committee on Public Health, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1437) of Barry R. Finegold for legislation to establish a special commission to study the youth sports industry, reports the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2892).

For the committee,

Joanne M. Comerford

        FILED ON: 5/27/2022

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2892

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act establishing a special commission to study the youth sports industry.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

(a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission established to study the growing youth sports industry in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

(b) The commission shall consist of 9 members, as follows: one person appointed by the Senate President; one person appointed by the House Speaker; one person appointed by the Governor; one representative from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association; one representative from the National Collegiate Athletic Association; one representative from the National Council of Youth Sports; and three industry representatives who operate youth sports organizations or venues in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and who shall be selected by the other 6 members of the commission. The Senate President’s and House Speaker’s appointees shall serve as co-chairs of the commission.

(c) The commission shall investigate and make recommendations about: (i) best practices of youth sports organizations; ii) the potential need for stronger oversight and accountability in the youth sports industry; iii) the financial strains that youth sports organizations have faced because of the COVID-19 pandemic; (iv) ways to ensure that children and families actually benefit from private youth sports programs; and (v) the financial cost of participating in private youth sports programs.

(d) Not later than 1 year after the effective date of this act, the commission shall file a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Clerks of the House of Representatives and Senate.