Helmet law may take 5 years to pass

The choice of wearing a helmet while skateboarding or rollerblading has received a large amount of debate in Bloomington since the death of a 14-year-old boy in early June. As a result of the death, a helmet requirement has surfaced multiple times in state legislation. However, a state law has yet to be created that would require children to wear a helmet while biking or skating.\nThe death of Matt Jennings sparked many to support the new legislation. Jennings suffered a head injury when he fell off a skateboard while being pulled by a moped. The accident caused a head injury, forcing Jennings on life support.\nThe issue of required head protection for children has resurfaced in the Bloomington area. Many parents and children strongly support the creation of a law that would require head protection for all children taking part in any wheeled sports. State Rep. Peggy Welch, D-Bloomington, has heard the outcry from parents and children on the subject.\n"I continue to receive several positive and supportive e-mails about creating a helmet law," Welch said.\nWelch has made several attempts to pass a helmet law, but it has failed in legislation. Since 1999, Welch has proposed the idea of head protection for all of Indiana. Welch has recently promised to introduce a proposal for legislation sometime next year. \n"Creating a state law can take anywhere from three to five years before it is passed," Welch said. "The first year consists of educating individuals in the area on the issue. Our second year deals with influencing bigger groups of people and organizations on the benefits and reasons for the law. Within the third year, we introduce the law to the state government. We try to get a hearing and get the laws passed in legislation." \nWelch has yet to develop the law but is raising awareness on the importance of head protection for children. She said she plans to research states that currently have helmet laws in effect and will study the overall public feeling toward the law.\n"Eleven states have helmet laws in place for wheeled sports," Welch said. \nWelch will work with a coalition to help create the law. One person who will be working directly with Welch in the creation process is Carol Touloukian, president of the Indiana Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics. Touloukian is a longtime friend of Welch and offers her support in the creation of the helmet law. \n"I have known Peggy Welch for at least 10 years, and I support her 100 percent on her pursuit for creating the law," Touloukian said.\nShe said she believes people of all ages should wear head protection when using a motorcycle, skateboard or rollerblades.\n"There is a bicycle ordinance already in effect for the Bloomington area, so having a statewide helmet law for all wheeled sports would only increase the safety for children," Touloukian said.\nThe Bloomington Bicycle Helmet Ordinance went into effect March 1, 1997, and requires all bicycle operators and passengers under the age of 18 to wear a helmet. There is a fine of $10 for failure to observe the ordinance.\n"There was a strong, positive response from the Bloomington Helmet Ordinance, and I suspect that a statewide helmet law will receive the same strong response," Touloukian said. "The law will help support parents in enforcing safety to their children." \nSenior Jared Kingery supports Welch and Touloukian's efforts in creating a helmet law.\n"It's in the skateboarders' best interest to wear a helmet," Kingery said.\nKingery said he believes a helmet law will reduce the number of head injuries that occur while taking part in a wheeled sport. \n-- Contact staff writer Nick Pittman at npittman@indiana.edu .