What's happening
This bill directs the Department of State to study and report on spectator safety and protective netting at New York baseball stadiums.
Why it matters
Addresses Rising Concerns About Fan Injuries. By requiring a study of injury incidents and the adequacy of current netting, the bill responds to growing public concern over spectators being hit by baseballs or bats at games.
Could Influence Stadium Safety Standards Statewide. The findings and recommendations may prompt new safety regulations or best practices affecting all large baseball stadiums in New York, potentially setting a precedent for other states.
Pushes for Greater Transparency and Accountability. The bill examines not just physical safety measures, but also how stadiums report injuries and disclose risks, which could lead to better-informed fans and improved injury tracking.
May Lead to Enhanced In-Stadium Warnings and Protections. Beyond netting, the study will consider additional safety steps, such as requiring more visible warnings to spectators, which could help reduce legal liability for stadiums and increase public safety awareness.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Baseball Stadium Safety
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to consumer protection
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.871
- Referred to consumer protection
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Study Baseball Stadium Safety
In Senate Committee · Consumer Protection · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3823
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SAVINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to direct the department of state to study, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning safety standards at baseball stadiums
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this act, "baseball stadium" means a place of public assembly with an occupancy capacity of at least five thousand persons, in which baseball games are played and seating or standing room is assigned by issuance of tickets purchased by spectators.
§ 2. Study. The department of state is hereby authorized and directed to conduct a study of the protective netting currently in use at baseball stadiums in the state to determine whether such netting is sufficient to protect spectators during baseball games. Such study shall examine, at a minimum, the following:
(a) the reported incidence of injuries suffered in baseball stadiums in the state by spectators as a result of being struck by a baseball or a thrown bat, the nature and severity of such injuries, and the general location where such injuries were suffered by such spectators within the baseball stadiums;
(b) the policies of the owners or operators of baseball stadiums in the state regarding the reporting of injuries, and whether or not such policies adequately disclose the rate of injuries suffered by spectators in such stadiums;
(c) whether baseball stadiums in the state are maintaining adequate protective netting to ensure the safety of spectators; and
(d) any other steps that may be taken to increase safety for spectators at baseball games in the state, including, but not limited to the posting of notices on tickets, seats, or other locations within a base-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01750-01-9
S. 3823 2
ball stadium warning spectators of the possibility of injury as a result of being struck by a baseball or thrown bat.
§ 3. Powers. The department of state may consult with any state or local office, agency, or department and request information from any such entity that is relevant and material to the completion of this study and report.
§ 4. Report. No later than one year after the effective date of this act, the department of state shall deliver a report of the findings of the study conducted pursuant to section two of this act to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to direct the department of state to study, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning safety standards at base- ball stadiums
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to gather information, based on a Department of State report, in order to determine if further steps need to be taken to protect spectators at baseball games from batted balls or thrown bats.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill defines a baseball stadium as used in this section.
Section 2 authorizes the Department of State to conduct a study of the protective netting currently in use at baseball stadiums in the state to determine whether current netting is sufficient enough to protect spec- tators. This section also outlines what specifically this study is intended to examine and discover.
Section 3 grants the Department of State the authority to consult with any state or local office, agency, or department in order to request any relevant information needed for completion of this study.
Section 4 requires the Department of State to deliver a report of the findings of the study to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly, no later than one year after the effeCtive date.
Section 5 sets the effective date.
Justification
According to a 2014 Bloomberg News report, approximately 1,750 Major League Baseball (MLB) fans are hurt by foul balls each season - roughly one person every two to three games. In addition to the two MLB teams, there are six minor league teams in New York which play in stadiums with over a 5,000-person capacity. While all MLB teams have voluntarily committed to installing protective netting exceeding MLB guidelines, which require netting to extend to the "near ends of both dugouts", some minor league teams in New York State have not extended their netting.
In addition, it has yet to be demonstrated that the extended netting, installed by the MLB teams is sufficient to properly protect fans from foul halls and thrown bats.
According to a recent Marist College poll released October 24, 2017, more than three in four baseball fans, 76%, do not think watching a baseball game through protective netting detracts from the enjoyment of the experience. Sixty-eight percent of respondents say the addition of protective netting does not change how they feel about watching the game, while 8% who think it makes the experience more enjoyable. When fans bring thsir .children to games, most responded that they would
select seats in a shielded area. 80% of fans say they would select seats in an area with netting while 17% would not.
This legislation would enable the legislature to obtain important infor- mation regarding injuries suffered at baseball stadiums by spectators due to being struck by baseballs or thrown bats, in order to examine whether further steps need to be taken in the future to protect the spectators of baseball games.
It requires the Department of State to conduct a study to determine whether current protective netting practices are sufficient in protect- ing consumers.
Prior legislative history
2018 Session: New Bill - S7690 - referred to Consumers and reported to Calendar
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be conducted within the funds of the Department
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.