SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1436        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1374

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Barry R. Finegold

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

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

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1436        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1374

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2892 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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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 president of the senate; one person appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 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 and who shall be selected by the other 6 members of the commission. The appointees of the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives 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.