AN ACT CONCERNING STUDENT ATHLETES AND CONCUSSIONS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) (1) For the school year commencing July 1, 2010, and each school year thereafter, any person who holds or is issued a coaching permit by the State Board of Education and is a coach of intramural or interscholastic athletics shall complete an initial training course regarding concussions and head injuries, developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, prior to commencing the coaching assignment for the season of such school athletics. For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year thereafter, a coach shall complete a refresher course, developed pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, not later than five years after completion of the initial training course, as a condition of the reissuance of a coaching permit to such coach. Such coach shall thereafter retake such refresher course at least once every five years as a condition of the reissuance of a coaching permit to such coach.

(2) For the school year commencing July 1, 2011, and each school year thereafter, and after completion of the initial training course described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, such coach shall annually review current and relevant information regarding concussions and head injuries, prepared by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the governing authority for intramural and interscholastic athletics, an appropriate organization representing licensed athletic trainers and an organization representing county medical associations, before the start of the coaching assignment for the season of such school athletics. Such annual review shall not be required in any year when such coach is required to complete the refresher course, pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, for reissuance of his or her coaching permit.

(b) (1) On or before July 1, 2010, the State Board of Education, in consultation with (A) the governing authority for intramural and interscholastic athletics, (B) an appropriate organization representing licensed athletic trainers, and (C) an organization representing county medical associations, shall develop a training course regarding concussions and head injuries. Such training course shall include, but not be limited to, (i) the recognition of the symptoms of a concussion or head injury, (ii) the means of obtaining proper medical treatment for a person suspected of having a concussion or head injury, and (iii) the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries, including the danger of continuing to play after sustaining a concussion or head injury and the proper method of allowing a student athlete who has sustained a concussion or head injury to return to athletic activity.

(2) On or before January 1, 2014, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the organizations described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall develop a refresher course regarding concussions and head injuries. Such refresher course shall include, but not be limited to, (A) an overview of key recognition and safety practices, (B) an update on medical developments in the field of concussion research and prevention, and (C) an update on new relevant federal, state and local laws and regulations.

(c) The State Board of Education may revoke the coaching permit, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (j) of section 10-145b of the general statutes, of any coach found to be in violation of this section.

Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2010) (a) (1) The coach of any intramural or interscholastic athletics shall immediately remove any student athlete participating in intramural or interscholastic athletics who (A) is observed to exhibit signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion following an observed or suspected blow to the head or body during a practice, game or competition, (B) is diagnosed with a concussion, or (C) is otherwise suspected of having sustained a concussion or head injury because such student athlete is observed to exhibit signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion regardless of when such concussion or head injury may have occurred.

(2) The coach shall not permit such student athlete to participate in any supervised team activities involving physical exertion, including, but not limited to, practices, games or competitions, sooner than twenty-four hours after such student athlete was so removed. The coach shall not permit such student athlete to participate in any supervised team activities involving physical exertion until such student athlete receives written clearance to participate in such supervised team activities involving physical exertion from a licensed health care professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.

(3) Following clearance pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, the coach shall not permit such student athlete to participate in any full, unrestricted supervised team activities without limitations on contact or physical exertion, including, but not limited to, practices, games or competitions, until such student athlete (A) no longer exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion at rest or with exertion, and (B) receives written clearance to participate in such full, unrestricted supervised team activities from a licensed health care professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.

(b) The State Board of Education may revoke the coaching permit, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (j) of section 10-145b of the general statutes, of any coach found to be in violation of this section.

(c) For purposes of this section, "licensed health care professional" means a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 370 of the general statutes, a physician assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 370 of the general statutes, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to chapter 378 of the general statutes or an athletic trainer licensed pursuant to chapter 375a of the general statutes.

Statement of Purpose:

To require coaches of intramural and interscholastic athletics to complete annual training regarding the recognition of and dangers associated with concussions; and to require that student athletes get medical clearance before returning to athletic activity after sustaining a concussion or head injury.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]