FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ross Warren @ (916) 319-2018
SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) has been named Legislator of the Year for 2010 by the California Chapters of the American Red Cross. The award recognizes Assemblymember Hayashi for "continuing the battle to ensure safer conditions for student athletes."
"I am deeply honored to receive this award from one of the most highly respected humanitarian organizations in the world," stated Assemblymember Mary Hayashi. "It's especially gratifying that the American Red Cross is recognizing the importance of our efforts here to ensure that our kids can be the athletes they want to be, without compromising their safety and prospects for a healthy and long adult life."
For the past three years, Assemblymember Hayashi has been introducing legislation to address growing concerns about concussions among high school student athletes. Over 40 percent of high school students return to play too early after a head injury, increasing their risk for another concussion and the serious health consequences stemming from such repeated head trauma. Assemblymember Hayashi's efforts inspired the California Interscholastic Federation to adopt safer return-to-play guidelines last year.
This year, she has introduced AB 25, which will establish return-to-play rules for youth who suffer a concussion during a practice or a game at a school facility. This includes student athletes participating in their school's sports programs, and youth that are a part of any club or association using school grounds for youth athletic activities. The bill is being co-sponsored by the National Football League, which has taken a stand to promote player safety and change the "shake it off" culture of the game at every level of play.
Assemblymember Hayashi is the Chair of the Business, Professions, and Consumer Protection Committee and serves the 18th Assembly District, which includes San Leandro, Hayward, Dublin, most of Castro Valley and Pleasanton, and a portion of Oakland, as well as the unincorporated areas of Ashland,Cherryland, San Lorenzo and Sunol.
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