The move came as lawmakers this week consider hundreds of bills before a Friday deadline. Brown took action on dozens of bills already approved by the Legislature, including signing measures requiring greater transparency in the California State University and UC systems and allowing landlords to bar renters from smoking in their units starting next year.

But the vetoes showed that the governor may be setting a high bar for new state mandates.

In his veto message accompanying the helmet bill, SB105 introduced by Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, Brown appeared to side with GOP critics who had characterized the measure as “nanny government.”

Brown, a Democrat, wrote, “While I appreciate the value of wearing a ski helmet, I am concerned about the continuing and seemingly inexorable transfer of authority from parents to the state. Not every human problem deserves a law.”

Supporters were quick to criticize the veto, pointing out that Brown’s Republican predecessor supported an identical bill last year and that the bill mirrored existing bicycle helmet laws for children. Jo Linder Crow, executive director of the California Psychological Association, said Brown “chose to ignore the scientific evidence (and) the ski industry’s support.”

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1. Heavenly Supporting the Ski Helmet Bill
2. Ski helmets may soon be mandatory in California
3. CA Ski Helmet Law Denied by Gov. Schwarzenegger

We all hope that other states will use New Jersey as an example and start to use logic and safety, vs emotion or pressure from the ski area operators, to make good leadership decisions. Remember when seat belts in cars were optional? Remember when skiis didn’t have safety straps or self activating brakes? Hopefully we will be asking the same thing about Ski Helmets a decade from now.

The New Jersey law will go into effect for the 2011-2012 season and will require a properly fitted helmet for anyone under the age of 18 on any New Jersey ski slopes.

Congrats New Jersey. Be proud. You’ve got our attention. Hopefully the rest of the country will follow suit.

Matt Sampson | Director | SkiHelmets.org

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1. New Jersey has a new Ski Helmet law brewing again

The sponsor of the measure, Sen. Ira Silverstein, acknowledged he’s never skied before. But the Chicago Democrat said making Illinois the first state in the nation to mandate helmet usage on the slopes for children and adults could prevent serious injuries.

“This is just a precautionary piece of legislation,” Silverstein said.

Members of the Senate Public Health Committee weren’t convinced, with just three of eight members voting “yes.” Opponents said helmets should be a choice — not a requirement — at the state’s four ski venues, which include Chestnut Mountain in Galena, Ski Snowstar in Andalusia, Four Lakes in Lisle and Villa Olivia in Bartlett.

“Why do you feel the state has to be the mother of everyone who wants to go skiing?” asked Sen. Shane Cultra, R-Onarga.
“This could prevent injuries,” Silverstein said.

Supporters, like Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, said she’ll be wearing a helmet when she goes skiing this weekend in Colorado.

“It is like seat belts,” Garrett said.

The measure’s defeat is another victory for ski operators, who have been successful in keeping helmet usage voluntary throughout the nation. New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation that would require children under the age of 14 to wear helmets while skiing and snowboarding.

The legislation is Senate Bill 57.

http://qctimes.com/news/local/article_d10b6f3a-4f2a-11e0-91f7-001cc4c03286.html

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1. Will Illinios be the first state with a Ski Helmet Law?

In a move likely to enrage many flocking to the slopes, a leading British insurer has signalled that it will become the first to insist skiers wear helmets if they are to be covered for head injuries.

To wear or not to wear that is the question.

It is certainly not a new debate and the argument about whether to wear a ski helmet or if there should be any form of compulsion, and for which groups, has been going on for many years.

It is likely to continue too.

The researchers from the BMJ have studied a project by the University of Innsbruck in Austria that concludes injures go down by 35% for adults if they are wearing a helmet and 59% for children under 13.

The University does much work into the safety side of skiing and snowboarding. Here are details of another study into fitness.

The research into wearing a helmet concludes that “wearing a helmet seems to make sense to prevent head injuries in all age groups” and that “protecting the head with a helmet must be beneficial.”

One study found that 74% of head injuries happened when people hit their head on the snow, 10% in collisions with other skiers or snowboarders and 13% when they hit fixed objects like pylons, rocks or trees.

The researchers argue that a ski helmet should be included in ski hire packages.

It already is in many cases and in the same way you can order skis and/or boots a skier or snowboarder can also add a helmet to the list.

We have already reported on both sides of the debate by asking a mountain guide why he had chose to start wearing a ski helmet and a ski instructor and BASI Trainer why he chose to not to on most occasions.

One argument against any compulsion is that wearing a helmet makes people feel safer and more protected.

They could therefore ski faster and with less care.

A point raised in this interview we did with British skier, Mervyn Fletcher, shortly after he bought a helmet for the first time.

It is not a new interview and we recorded it for PlanetSKI in 2009 but the points raised remain valid.

PlanetSKI has just been in Vail in Coloroado where people are encouraged to wear helmets and all resort staff have to wear one when on duty.

A quick and totally unscientific count in one of the lift queues in Vail showed about 70% of all people wearing a helmet.

More popular in the USA

In Europe there is widespread compulsion for children, especially in Italy and Austria.

Many ski schools require children to wear a helmet during lessons.

But despite the rhetoric and extensive media coverage after a number of high-profile accidents there is no sign of widespread compulsion coming into force.

In Europe at least.

UPDATE…..

The director of the British Alpine Ski & Snowboard School, Hugh Monney, has read the above article and just sent us in his reaction. He is a BASI Trainer and highly respected in the ski industry.

We thought it worth publishing.

“I’ve just read the Planet Ski article, reviewing the findings of the BMJ article, on the benefits of using helmets when skiing. I’ve been wearing ski helmets for almost a decade now and many of my clients convert, when they hear the reasons.

What type of skier would benefit from wearing a helmet?The type that has a head that they’d like to protect, in the event of an unforseen accident.

I’ve heard stories of helmets being uncomfortable and reducing peripheral vision – that would a description of a helmet that fits poorly.The helmet i use is light, comfortable and has absolutely zero effect on peripheral vision, as you’ll see from the photo.

The BMJ article is reporting real science. It’s fine for individuals to have opinions that are at odds with the science – that’s an example of democracy in action.

It’s less than fine for ski professionals to profess those opinions, though. That’s an example of being mis-informed. ‘The research is in’, as they say.”

SOURCE: http://www.planetski.eu/news/2550

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1. Austria requires Ski Helmets for more now

Dr Gerhard Ruedl and colleagues from the Department of Sport Science at the University of Innsbruck in Austria say there is convincing evidence that ski helmets protect against head injury. They argue that one way to increase helmet use is to ensure that they can be easily hired or included in skiing packages.

The authors say that the debate about ski helmets has intensified after a few fatal skiing injuries in Europe and North America. On New Year’s Day in 2009 a politician wearing a helmet collided with a woman who was not wearing one. The politician survived but the woman did not. In March 2009, actress Natasha Richardson died after a traumatic head injury while skiing in Canada – she was not wearing helmet.

A recent study concluded that general head injury was reduced by 35% when ski helmets were used and this rose to 59% for children under 13. “Wearing a ski helmet seems to make sense to prevent head injuries in all age groups,” say the authors.

They acknowledge, however, that there are some arguments against helmets. There is a theory, they say, that helmet use may provide a false sense of security and result in riskier behaviour. One study found that helmet use is higher in more skilled skiers so perhaps “the use of a helmet is not necessarily associated with a higher level of risk taking but primarily with a higher level of skill” they suggest.

Ultimately the authors believe the evidence points to helmets having a protective effect and say that action needs to be taken to increase helmet use.
Provided by British Medical Journal

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-skiers-helmets.html

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1. Health Matters: Helmet Usage and Snow Sports
2. Helmets protect skiers, snowboarders from head injury

At Ski Snowstar, some people hitting the slopes have on helmets. “I think anyone that rides or skis that doesn’t wear a helmet is crazy,” says Snowboarder Mary Beth Eggers. However, there are some skiers that do not wear helmets. “It makes my head move around too much and it’s not comfortable,” says Jillian Johnson.

The proposed “Ski Slope Safety Act” would require everyone on the slopes trails and lifts to have helmets on. “I think it should totally be up to the riders. For the state to push that law they would have to orchestrate some way of mandating it and putting the responsibility on the snow resort. Plus, the money’s going to benefit the state and not the snow resort anyway’s,” adds Johnson.

SOURCE: http://www.kwqc.com/Global/story.asp?S=13974619

The ski operator would be responsible for making sure everyone in the ski area has a helmet, posting signs and having helmets available. “We’d have to have thousands of helmets and different sizes to fit everybody. It would be a huge financial commitment,” says Todd Kempf, Ski Snowstar Office Manager.

Ski Snowstar already leases and sells helmets; they are actually seeing sales of protective gear increase. However, the ski operator has questions about the law. “How do you enforce it? Do you have to kick them out? Do we have to remove them from out premises if they disagree with us? We could get into a really bad situation,” adds Kempf.

Management also wonder why target skiers, when motorcyclists don’t have to wear helmets. “If you can have a motorcycle going down a highway at 65 to 70 miles an hour, but when we’re skiing at 20 to 30 miles per hour, it’s hard to do,” says Kempf.

Those riding down the slopes say it’s about personal choice and skiers understanding their limits. “I do wear a helmet if I’m going to do tricks, if I’m going to do jumps, if I ride harder terrain, I do wear a helmet,” says Snowboarder Mana Reynolds.

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1. Will Illinios be the first state with a Ski Helmet Law?

Under a measure pending in the Illinois Senate, Illinois would become the first state in the nation to require anyone heading down a ski slope to wear a safety helmet.

The proposed law would affect just a handful of ski areas in the state – primarily because there are just a handful of ski areas in the state.

The largest ski and snowboard area is Chestnut Mountain in Galena. Other ski venues include Ski Snowstar in Andalusia, Four Lakes in Lisle and Villa Olivia in Bartlett.

Although the slopes at these facilities are miniscule compared to the soaring peaks in Colorado and Utah, the sponsor of the legislation says skiers and boarders can nonetheless build up enough speed to cause injuries if a crash occurs.

“I’m trying to prevent serious injuries,” state Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago, said.

Some ski resort operators say helmet usage should remain a personal choice or one made by parents for their children.

“There isn’t even a law in Illinois requiring motorcycle riders to wear helmets,” said Todd Kempf, office manager at Snowstar, which is located near the Quad-Cities. “I think its overkill.”

Skiers and boarders at Snowstar have the option of renting a helmet for $6 per day, or purchasing a new one, which can range from about $50 to more than $130.

Ski operators have been successful in keeping helmet usage voluntary throughout the nation. But, New Jersey lawmakers have advanced legislation that would require kids under the age of 14 to wear helmets while skiing and snowboarding.

Operators have not vigorously opposed the New Jersey proposal because it puts the onus of wearing a helmet on parents instead of ski resorts.

In addition, the Colorado-based National Ski Areas Association notes that local police would be charged with enforcement of the law rather than ski operators.

“Those are the types of ski helmet bills that NSAA supports,” noted Geraldine Link, NSAA director of public policy.

Silverstein said he has no personal knowledge of skiing or snowboarding.

“I’m a klutz. I’d probably break my leg or something. I have two left hands,” Silverstein said. “I just think it makes a lot of common sense. It’s just a precautionary piece of legislation.”

The legislation is Senate Bill 57.

SOURCE: http://www.herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/article_7cdeb508-2db9-11e0-b746-001cc4c03286.html

Author: KURT ERICKSON – H&R Springfield Bureau Chief

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1. Illinois will not be first state with Ski Helmet Law…
2. IL Lawmakers Discuss Ski Helmet Law

A similar bill passed the Senate in 1991 but failed to move forward after facing opposition from the skiing industry. Versions have been bouncing around the Legislature ever since.

This session, the bill passed through the Senate and got through an Assembly committee last week. It now waits on a full Assembly vote and an OK from Gov. Chris Christie.

The bill had been rewritten so that parents, instead of ski resorts, would be fined if there were violations.

“Now, because we changed the onus to being on the parents, I think it has a better shot of going through,” said Sen. Joe Pennacchio, a sponsor of the bill.

Co-sponsor Sen. Anthony Bucco added that more skiers have voluntarily worn helmets in recent years. That has helped raised awareness and helps the cause.

“Watching the Olympics last year, all of the different sports in the Winter Olympics, all wore helmets,” Bucco said. “They realize the dangers in some of these sports and they make sure the Olympians wear helmets.”

Legislators in New York and California are considering similar measures. The law in New Jersey would apply only to kids under 14.

The bill has been championed throughout the process by a New Jersey doctor whose daughter died in a skiing accident more than 20 years ago.

By Carolyn Beeler

SOURCE: http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/flexicontent/item/11767-ski/

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A bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco, R-Boonton, is trying to change that. The bill, which was released from committee last week, would require anyone under the age of 18 to wear a helmet while skiing or snowboarding.

A recent study by Morristown Memorial Hospital said helmets would prevent up to 50 percent of injuries suffered by young skiers. It admitted that helmets would be unlikely to prevent injuries in high speed crashes. Fair enough. Seat belts are not going to save the driver 100 percent of the time either in high speed crashes, but that is not a reason not to wear seat belts.

The committee’s action was applauded by Barbara Geiger-Parker, the president and CEO of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey. She commended the sponsors for their leadership in trying to prevent brain injuries and expressed hope that the bill would become law. We concur.

SOURCE: http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20110124/OPINION01/110121066/1005/NEWS01/Ski+helmet+bill+should+become+law

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The bill is designed to lessen the number of injuries suffered on New Jersey ski slopes. A recent study by Morristown Memorial Hospital indicated that helmet use at two North Jersey slopes, Mountain Creek and Hidden Valley Club, lagged behind the national average.

A helmet will prevent between 30 and 50 percent of injuries in falls at moderate speed, the hospital found. But helmets would not guard against significant injuries in high-speed crashes.

Mountain Creek, located in Vernon, disputed the hospital’s findings on helmet use, saying their usage rate was above the national average. The resort also enforces a rule requiring mandatory headgear for skiers under the age of 13, Mountain Creek officials said.

“Helmets can greatly reduce the threat of serious injury on ski slopes, but many people still don’t wear them,” said Assemblyman Anthony Bucco, R-Morris, one of the bill’s sponsors. “This will make New Jersey a trailblazer in ski safety. It will make children safer immediately, but I also hope it increases awareness so that more adults wear safety equipment.”

The bill, approved by the Assembly Tourism and Arts Committee Thursday, passed the state Senate 34-2 in August 2010. It now heads to the full Assembly for consideration.

NEW JERSEY PRESS MEDIA

SOURCE: http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20110121/NEWS01/101210353/Assembly-panel-OKs-ski-helmet-use-bill

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1. OPINION: Ski helmet bill should become law

‘All we can do is encourage them to wear them. We can’t put them on their heads.’— Allan Matters, Brookvale Ski Park

A few years ago P.E.I. made it law that cyclists must wear helmets, but there are no plans to force them on skiers or snowboarders at the provincial park. Instead officials are focusing on education.

Allan Matters, superintendent of operations, told CBC News a program where free passes are randomly handed out to people who do wear helmets is continuing this season. New this year is including a helmet with every ski rental package.

“We have it in all our packages this year,” said Matters.

“All we can do is encourage them to wear them. We can’t put them on their heads.”

The park is also putting up posters from the Brain Injury Coalition of P.E.I.

“Some of them say ‘Precious life, protect it, wear a helmet,’” said coalition president Kenneth Murnaghan.

“Another one is, ‘It’s a beautiful day, don’t spoil it. Wear a helmet.’”

Murnaghan was 10 years old when he went headfirst over the handle bars of his bike after hitting a manhole cover. He wasn’t wearing a helmet, and he’s now partially paralyzed.

Murnaghan convincing people to wear a helmet requires repeating the message again and again.

“You need to keep drilling it,” he said.

“I care what happens to fellow Islanders. I don’t want somebody to have to go through what I have to go through.”

While the coalition supports the education campaign, Murnaghan would like to see a mandatory helmet law at Brookvale.

Matters said the education campaign seems to be working. Between 75 and 80 per cent of visitors are now strapping on a helmet before taking to the hills.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/01/17/pei-ski-helmet-brookvale-584.html

Yee introduced SB 105 this week, which would require children to wear helmets when they are on the slopes at California ski resorts. Mirroring existing bicycle helmet laws, it would impose a $25 fine on parents who fail to protect their kids’ heads. It also would require resorts to post signs about the law.

The senator was successful in passing a similar measure last year, which was signed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, due to a deal Yee cut with former Assemblyman (now-Insurance Commissioner) Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, Yee’s helmet bill was tied to a Jones bill that mandated ski resorts publish safety plans. Schwarzenegger vetoed the Jones bill, effectively killing Yee’s proposal as well.

This year, Yee said, the bill is a stand-alone measure. Yee’s office noted half of all skiing deaths are caused by a head injury, and that “recent studies show that when helmets are used, the incidence of traumatic brain or head injury has been reduced 29 percent to 56 percent”

“It is imperative that we do not have another ski season in which children are left at such serious risk,” he said. “California’s ski slopes are perhaps the last area of recreation where we do not have basic safety standards in place for children. … SB 105 will significantly reduce instances of traumatic brain injury or death for such a vulnerable population.”

Last year, some Republican lawmakers opposed the bill, arguing that it smacked of “nanny government” and went too far by inserting government into private lives.

Posted By: Marisa Lagos

Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=80914

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The bill was actually written by a grade 10 student, Justin Steenhof from Smithers, B.C. Justin was one of winners of the NDP’s Create Your Canada contest, which gives students the chance to try to affect issues they care about at a federal level.

The bill proposes to remove the HST or GST from purchases of equipment rentals or lift tickets purchased at ski hills that require helmets to be worn by all skiers and snowboarders who use the hill.

“This is something where this young man wanted to give it a push, so that there are fewer and fewer brain injuries over time,” says Skeena – Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen during an October 6 media call.

Justin’s bill is designed to use federal taxes to influence an issue that is not under federal government jurisdiction.

According to Cullen, the provinces have been reluctant to impose mandatory helmet rules themselves.

“Ultimately this is controlled by the provinces but the provinces aren’t moving on this at all. There have been some cost considerations for parents because not all helmets are cheap. But if you’ve spent 200 bucks on skis, surely you spend some more money to protect the kid’s head,” says Cullen.

The hope is that the prospect of having cheaper prices than the competition will get ski hills to voluntarily impose mandatory helmet rules on their slopes.

“Parents if given the choice are certainly going to opt for hills that are safer, and maybe cheaper,” says Cullen.

“This is more of a carrot approach than a stick approach. We sense that eventually this movement will be similar to bicycles where provinces will start to pass laws.”

Mark Garbowski is the mountain operations manager for Hudson Bay Mountain ski resort. While he points out that many ski hills around the country, including his, strongly encourage patrons to wear helmets, he doesn’t believe many hills will take up the offer of having tax-free prices in exchange for making helmets mandatory on the slopes.

“I doubt if you’ll see ski areas go for that. There are just too many visitors. You’re going to change the entire industry by bringing a bill like that in,” says Garbowski.

“There are hills that have a couple million visits a year. Imagine the impact of forcing a couple million people to have helmets.”

The probability of Justin’s bill receiving royal assent remains small based on the history on Parliament Hill. Several private members bills are introduced into the house every year with only a small few ever making it into law.

The bill came to Schwarzenegger attached to another piece of legislation regarding ski resort signage and safety plans with the stipulation that if both bills weren’t passed, neither would take effect. Schwarzenegger refused to sign the second bill, writing: “This bill may place an unnecessary burden on resorts, without assurance of (reduced deaths or injuries.”

According to the Fresno Bee:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger applauded a proposed mandatory helmet law for minors Friday but took action that shelved it.

The Legislature, in passing the helmet law, stipulated that it would take effect only if a separate bill targeting ski resort signage and safety plans also was signed by the governor. Schwarzenegger said no.

“Consequently, while I am signing this (helmet) bill to demonstrate my support for this measure, I recognize that it will not take effect,” Schwarzenegger said in a written statement. Senate Bill 880 would have required children under 18 to wear helmets for downhill skiing or snowboarding.

Children currently must wear helmets when riding bicycles, skates, skateboards or non-motorized scooters, but not when sliding down a snowy mountain without brakes.
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The bill by Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, called for violators to be fined $25, but it required judges to drop fines for first-time offenders. Law enforcement agencies, rather than ski resorts, would have issued citations.

Yee, through his chief of staff, Adam Keigwin, said the bill will be reintroduced next year as a stand-alone measure. Nationwide, an average of 38 people die annually from skiing or snowboarding, and about 42 people suffer crippling or serious injuries, according to the National Ski Areas Association.

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1. California trying again with Ski Helmet Laws
2. CA Ski Helmet Law Denied by Gov. Schwarzenegger
3. Father Continues His Fight for Safety Improvements to Prevent Injuries and Deaths at California Ski Resorts