SAFETY IN YOUTH SPORTS ACT - ENACTMENT
|Act of Nov. 9, 2011, P.L. 411, No. 101||Cl. 24|
Establishing standards for managing concussions and traumatic brain injuries to student athletes; assigning duties to the Department of Health and the Department of Education; and imposing penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Safety in Youth Sports Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Appropriate medical professional." All of the following:
(1) A licensed physician who is trained in the evaluation and management of concussions or a licensed or certified health care professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and designated by such licensed physician.
(2) A licensed psychologist neuropsychologically trained in the evaluation and management of concussions or who has postdoctoral training in neuropsychology and specific training in the evaluation and management of concussions.
"Athletic activity." All of the following:
(1) Interscholastic athletics.
(2) An athletic contest or competition, other than interscholastic athletics, that is sponsored by or associated with a school entity, including cheerleading, club-sponsored sports activities and sports activities sponsored by school-affiliated organizations.
(3) Noncompetitive cheerleading that is sponsored by or associated with a school entity.
(4) Practices, interschool practices and scrimmages for all of the activities listed under paragraphs (1), (2) and (3).
"Interscholastic athletics." As defined in section 1602-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949.
"School entity." As defined in section 1602-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949.
Section 3. Concussions and traumatic brain injuries.
(a) Educational materials.--The Department of Health and the Department of Education shall develop and post on their Internet websites guidelines and other relevant materials to inform and educate students participating in or desiring to participate in an athletic activity, their parents and their coaches about the nature and risk of concussion and traumatic brain injury, including the risks associated with continuing to play or practice after a concussion or traumatic brain injury. In developing the guidelines and materials, the departments shall utilize existing materials developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A student participating in or desiring to participate in an athletic activity and the student's parent or guardian shall each school year, prior to participation by the student in an athletic activity, sign and return to the student's school an acknowledgment of receipt and review of a concussion and traumatic brain injury information sheet developed under this subsection.
(b) Informational meeting.--A school entity may hold an informational meeting prior to the start of each athletic season for all ages of competitors regarding concussions and other head injuries, the importance of proper concussion management and how preseason baseline assessments can aid in the evaluation, management and recovery process. In addition to students, parents, coaches and other school officials, informational meetings may include physicians, neuropsychologists, athletic trainers and physical therapists.
(c) Removal from play.--A student who, as determined by a game official, coach from the student's team, certified athletic trainer, licensed physician, licensed physical therapist or other official designated by the student's school entity, exhibits signs or symptoms of a concussion or traumatic brain injury while participating in an athletic activity shall be removed by the coach from participation at that time.
(d) Return to play.--The coach shall not return a student to participation until the stud