Schools would strengthen concussion training and return-to-play rules

State education and health officials would require concussion training for school coaches, physical education teachers, nurses, athletic trainers, and medical directors. The training would cover school employees and contractors who serve schools or school districts. Training would be required every two years. The course would cover concussion symptoms, prevention, treatment, and returning to school and activities. Approved online and teleconference courses could be used. The requirements would apply if the act becomes law and would take effect on July 1 following enactment.

State agencies and schools would post concussion information and include it in sports permission or consent materials. The information would cover concussion symptoms, causes, prevention, and guidelines for returning to school and certain activities. Schools would include the information, or a link to state agency information, on their websites when they have one. Schools would include the information in documents required for student participation in interscholastic sports. These requirements would apply if the act becomes law and would take effect on July 1 following enactment.

Schools would remove students from athletic activities when they may have a concussion and would require medical clearance before they return. The rules would cover students believed to have suffered a concussion during or outside school activities. A student would be presumed to have a concussion when there is doubt. Return would require at least 24 hours without symptoms, a full class schedule without concussion-related academic accommodations, and signed authorization from a licensed physician, physician assistant, or certified nurse practitioner. Schools could create concussion management teams to oversee these rules and provide information to families. These provisions would apply if the act becomes law and would take effect on July 1 following enactment.