Public Act 0234 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1130 Enrolled LRB097 06083 JDS 46156 b

Public Act 097-0234

AN ACT concerning movable soccer goals.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Movable Soccer Goal Safety Act or Zach's Law.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Movable soccer goal" means a freestanding structure consisting of at least 2 upright posts, a crossbar, and support bars that is designed:

(1) to be used by adults or children for the purposes of a soccer goal;

(2) to be used without any other form of support or restraint (other than pegs, stakes, augers, counter-weights, or other types of temporary anchoring devices); and

(3) to be able to be moved to different locations.

"Organization" means any park district, school district, sporting club, soccer organization, unit of local government, religious organization, business, or other similar organization that uses, owns, or maintains a movable soccer goal.

Section 10. Soccer goal safety and education policy. Movable soccer goals present a serious threat to the safety of children and adults from the dangers of unanchored or improperly anchored soccer goals tipping over. Care should be taken when installing, setting up, maintaining, moving, and properly securing a movable soccer goal. If an organization owns and controls a movable soccer goal, it must create a soccer goal safety and education policy that outlines how the organization will specifically address the safety issues associated with movable soccer goals.

Section 15. Tip-resistant movable soccer goals required.

(a) Beginning one year after the effective date of this Act, no commercial dealer, manufacturer, importer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer may manufacture, re-manufacture, retrofit, distribute, sell at wholesale or retail, contract to sell or resell, lease, or sublet, or otherwise place in the stream of commerce, a movable soccer goal that is not tip-resistant.

(b) For purposes of this Act, a movable soccer goal whose inside measurements are 6.5 to 8 feet high and 18 to 24 feet wide does not qualify as tip-resistant unless it conforms to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard F2673-08 for tip-resistant movable soccer goals.

Section 20. Technical assistance for soccer goal safety. By June 30, 2012, the Department of Public Health shall provide technical assistance materials based on guidelines such as the Guidelines for Movable Soccer Goal Safety in order to improve soccer goal safety. The Department may make these materials available on its website.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

Effective Date: 8/2/2011