ATLANTA (March 18, 2015) | Last week, Sen. Donzella James (D – Atlanta) led the passage of Senate Bill 176 through the State Senate. SB 176 will strongly encourage youth athletes participating in organized football to wear helmets with a minimum of four stars on the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings scale.
“The time has come for stricter precautionary measures aimed at keeping our football players safe,” said Sen. James. “This legislation will help protect young athletes in Georgia from head injuries. I applaud my colleagues in the senate for their support in keeping Georgia’s children safe and I look forward to a swift passage in the House of Representatives.”
SB 176 is named after 16-year-old Deantre Gregory Turman who died in 2013 after being injured in a Creekside High School scrimmage. Turman was wearing a helmet with a rating of two at the time of his death. Most counties require a helmet rating of four or five, but not Fulton. Turman’s autopsy revealed he would not have suffered the injury with proper equipment.
Virginia Tech University and Wake Forest University have evaluated 18 helmets using their “STAR” Rating System. These ratings are based on laboratory and on-field biomechanics tests. The Star Rating System is used in college football as a guideline for selecting helmets for practice and game use.
SB 176 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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For Immediate Release:
March 18, 2015
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Director
Adam Sweat, Sr. Communications Specialist
Adam.sweat@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028