California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he would veto a bill that would ban youth football.
That led to Kevin McCarty (D–Sacramento), the bill’s author, to pull the bill on Wednesday.
The backstory: Assembly Bill 734, introduced by Asm. Kevin McCarty (D–Sacramento), would ban all children under the age of 12 from playing tackle football.
- Last week the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism passed AB 734 on a party-line vote, with Democrats supporting the ban.
The big picture: Newsom announced Tuesday night that he would veto the bill if it was approved by the Legislature.
- Wednesday, McCarthy announced that he will not advance AB 734 since Newsom is opposed to it.
What they’re saying: “I will not sign legislation that bans youth tackle football,” Newsom said in a statement. “I am deeply concerned about the health and safety of our young athletes, but an outright ban is not the answer.”
- Newsom said his administration will work with McCarty and the Legislature to strengthen safety in youth football.
- “We will not take up AB 734 – which would have phased out kids 12 years old and younger from playing youth tackle football,” McCarty said in a statement Wednesday. “I do look forward to the Governor’s invitation to work on ways to better protect our youngest athletes and keep them safe from repetitive head hits, which can cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy.”
