HB 706: Skateboards; Helmet Requirement; Minors

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that skateboard accidents on roadways and streets can result in serious injury to the skateboard user, including head trauma.  According to an article published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "Injuries to the Head and Face from Skateboarding:  A 10-Year Analysis From National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Hospitals", from 2009 to 2018, there were an estimated 100,201 emergency room visits nationwide related to trauma to the head and face while skateboarding.  The article concluded that "[a] substantial number of [emergency department] visits were a result of skateboarding-related facial trauma.  Given the neurologic outcomes of head trauma and functional consequences of facial fractures, especially among adolescents, our findings suggest that injury prevention programs and more aggressive helmet use may be necessary to reduce morbidity and hospitalization".

     The legislature further finds that existing laws in the State protect bicyclists under the age of sixteen by requiring operators to wear a helmet.  Additionally, the legislature notes that other states require helmets for minors including California, New York, and Oregon.  Extension of existing safety provisions for bicyclists to skateboard riders will provide additional protection for all roadway users.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the use of a safety helmet by anyone under the age of sixteen while riding a skateboard on roadways and streets.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part XII to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§291C-     Skateboards; helmet required.  (a)  No person under sixteen years of age shall operate a skateboard upon a street, roadway, bikeway, or any other public property unless the person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened helmet that is designed to fit the user, protect against head trauma, and has been tested by a nationally recognized agency such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Safety Council, or Children's Safety Network.

     (b)  This section shall not be construed to legalize the use of skateboards in violation of any county ordinance.

     (c)  For the purposes of this section, "skateboard" means a short board with wheels that a person stands on to move along a surface or to perform tricks."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Skateboards; Helmet Requirement; Minors

Description:

Requires all skateboard users under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet while operating a skateboard.  Takes effect 1/1/3000.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that skateboard accidents on roadways and streets can result in serious injury to the skateboard user, including head trauma.  According to an article published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "Injuries to the Head and Face from Skateboarding:  A 10-Year Analysis From National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Hospitals", from 2009 to 2018, there were an estimated 100,201 emergency room visits nationwide related to trauma to the head and face while skateboarding.  The article concluded that "[a] substantial number of [emergency department] visits were a result of skateboarding-related facial trauma.  Given the neurologic outcomes of head trauma and functional consequences of facial fractures, especially among adolescents, our findings suggest that injury prevention programs and more aggressive helmet use may be necessary to reduce morbidity and hospitalization".

     The legislature further finds that existing laws in the State protect bicyclists under the age of sixteen by requiring operators to wear a helmet.  Additionally, the legislature notes that other states require helmets for minors including California, New York, and Oregon.  Extension of existing safety provisions for bicyclists to skateboard riders will provide additional protection for all roadway users.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the use of a safety helmet by anyone under the age of sixteen while riding a skateboard on roadways and streets.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part XII to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§291C-     Skateboards; helmet required.  (a)  No person under sixteen years of age shall operate a skateboard upon a street, roadway, bikeway, or any other public property unless the person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened helmet that is designed to fit the user, protect against head trauma, and has been tested by a nationally recognized agency such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Safety Council, or Children's Safety Network.

     (b)  This section shall not be construed to legalize the use of skateboards in violation of any county ordinance.

     (c)  For the purposes of this section, "skateboard" means a short board with wheels that a person stands on to move along a surface or to perform tricks."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Skateboards; Helmet Requirement; Minors

Description:

Requires all skateboard users under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet while operating a skateboard.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to highway safety.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that skateboard accidents on roadways and streets can result in serious injury to the skateboard user, including head trauma.  According to an article published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, "Injuries to the Head and Face from Skateboarding:  A 10-Year Analysis From National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Hospitals", from 2009 to 2018, there were an estimated 100,201 emergency room visits nationwide related to trauma to the head and face while skateboarding.  The article concluded that "[a] substantial number of [emergency department] visits were a result of skateboarding-related facial trauma.  Given the neurologic outcomes of head trauma and functional consequences of facial fractures, especially among adolescents, our findings suggest that injury prevention programs and more aggressive helmet use may be necessary to reduce morbidity and hospitalization".

     The legislature further finds that existing laws in the State protect bicyclists under the age of sixteen by requiring operators to wear a helmet.  Additionally, the legislature notes that other states require helmets for minors including California, New York, and Oregon.  Extension of existing safety provisions for bicyclists to skateboard riders will provide additional protection for all roadway users. 

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the use of a safety helmet by anyone under the age of sixteen while riding a skateboard on roadways and streets.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part XII to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§291C-    Skateboards; helmet required.  (a)  No person under sixteen years of age shall operate a skateboard upon a street, roadway, bikeway, or any other public property unless the person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened helmet that is designed to fit the user, protect against head trauma, and has been tested by a nationally recognized agency such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Safety Council, or the Children's Safety Network.

     (b)  This section shall not be construed to legalize the use of skateboards in violation of any county ordinance.

     (c)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Skateboard" means a short board that is on wheels that a person stands on to move along a surface or to perform tricks.

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Skateboards; Helmet Requirement; Minors

Description:

Requires all skateboard users under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet while operating a skateboard.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1675

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 706

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 706, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require all skateboard users under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet while operating a skateboard.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that according to the National Institute on Mental Health, the pre-frontal cortex of a person's brain is one of the last parts to fully mature.  The pre-frontal cortex is a critical area of the brain that is responsible for skills like planning, prioritizing, and making good decisions, and does not fully develop until a person is in their mid-to-late twenties.  Your Committee further finds that, according to the National Library of Medicine, wearing a helmet while skateboarding reduces the risk of head injuries by up to eighty-eight percent.  This measure will protect the still developing and maturing brains of children in the State by requiring them to wear a helmet while operating a skateboard.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 706, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1319

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 706

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 706, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require all skateboard users under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet while operating a skateboard.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, AAA Hawaii, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that skateboarding without a helmet significantly increases the probability of sustaining a serious injury.  Head trauma is the most common injury caused by skateboarding accidents and often has notable lasting consequences, such as traumatic brain injuries.  Evidence demonstrates that wearing a helmet reduces the risk of a head injury by up to eighty-five percent.  Therefore, this measure improves public safety and prioritizes health by requiring young skateboarders to wear helmets.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of January 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 706, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 706, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1080

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 706

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 706, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require all skateboard users under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet while operating a skateboard on public property.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; AAA Hawaiʻi; Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children; and four individuals.

     Your Committee finds that according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than two hundred thirty thousand people with skateboarding-related injuries received emergency treatment at a hospital in 2022, with more than one-third involving children under the age of fifteen.  Your Committee further finds that non-helmeted skateboards have a sixty percent greater risk of sustaining an injury than helmeted skateboarders.  This measure will align Hawaii with other states that have passed mandatory helmet laws for minors who are skateboarding on streets and other public properties such as skateparks.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 706, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  376

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 706

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 706 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the use of a helmet by anyone under the age of sixteen while riding a skateboard.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition; Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children; and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that skateboarding, while a popular recreational activity, poses significant safety risks to the head and face.  Given the serious consequences of head trauma, particularly for young people, your Committee finds that the implementation of helmet requirements for skateboarders under the age of sixteen will help mitigate the risk of serious injury.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 706, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 706, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,