PRINTER'S NO. 2622

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No. 1996 Session of 2001

        INTRODUCED BY FRANKEL, PALLONE, BEBKO-JONES, CRUZ, GEORGE,
           HARHAI, HORSEY, PISTELLA, SCRIMENTI, SHANER, SOLOBAY, WALKO,
           C. WILLIAMS, J. WILLIAMS AND YOUNGBLOOD, OCTOBER 5, 2001

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
           OCTOBER 5, 2001

                                     AN ACT

     1  Requiring the use of eye-protective devices for persons engaged
     2     in a game or sport involving the use of paintball guns or
     3     paintball markers.

     4     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     5  hereby enacts as follows:
     6  Section 1.  Short title.
     7     This act shall be known and may be cited as the Paintball Eye
     8  Protection Act.
     9  Section 2.  Definitions.
    10     The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
    11  have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
    12  context clearly indicates otherwise:
    13     "Department."  The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
    14     "Eye-protective device."  Any device specifically designed to
    15  protect the eyes of the wearer and meeting the standards
    16  established and approved by the department.
    17     "Paintball gun."  A device designed and manufactured to

     1  propel, by gas or air, an encapsulated gelatin paintball.
     2     "Paintball marker."  A device designed and manufactured to
     3  propel, by gas or air, an encapsulated gelatin paintball.
     4  Section 3.  Eye-protective devices required.
     5     No person shall participate in a game or sport involving the
     6  use of one or more paintball guns or paintball markers unless
     7  that person is wearing an eye-protective device of a type
     8  approved by the department.
     9  Section 4.  Approval of eye-protective devices.
    10     The department, in consultation with doctors of optometry,
    11  ophthalmology and other experts in eye injuries, shall issue and
    12  enforce regulations establishing quality standards and
    13  specifications for the approval of eye-protective devices and
    14  may approve, disapprove or publish lists of all eye-protective
    15  devices by name and type which have been approved.
    16  Section 5.  Effective date.
    17     This act shall take effect in 60 days.









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