Directs the commissioner of education to establish rules and regulations for the treatment and monitoring of students who suffer concussions or head injuries

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commissioner of education to establish rules and regulations for the treatment and monitoring of students who suffer concussions or head injuries

Purpose or general idea of bill

It is the purpose of this legislation to establish standards and guidelines for school districts regarding concussions and head injuries sustained during student athletic events.

Summary of specific provisions

The New York State Department of Education shall work in concert with the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association to develop guidelines to establish standards for school districts regarding concussion and head injuries sustained during school athletic games.

The New York State Department of Education shall work in concert with the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Public High School Association to develop pertinent information and forms to inform and educate coaches, youth athletes, and their parents and/or guardians of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury including continuing to play after concussion or head injury.

On a yearly basis, a concussion and head injury information sheet shall be signed and returned by the youth athlete and the athlete's parent and/or guardian prior to the youth athlete's initiating practice or competition.

A youth athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury in a practice or game shall be removed from competition at that time.

A youth athlete who has been removed from play may not return to play until the athlete is evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussion and receives written clearance to return to play from that health care provider.

Justification

Concussions are one of the most commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational activities. The centers for disease control and prevention estimates that as many as three million nine hundred thousand sports-related and recreation-related concussions occur in the united States each year. A concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death are significant when a concussion or head injury is not properly evaluated and managed.

Concussions are a type of brain injury that can range from mild to severe and can disrupt the way the brain normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or unorganized sport or recreational activity and can result from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or without loss of consciousness, but the vast majority occurs without loss of consciousness.

Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of head injury leaves the young athlete especially vulnerable to greater injury and even death. Despite having generally recognized return to play standards for concussion and head injury, some affected youth athletes are

prematurely returned to play resulting in actual or potential physical injury or death to youth athletes in the state of New York.

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, that, effective immediately, any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such date.