The bill amends Section 16-91-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-91, known as the "School and Youth Programs Concussion Act," to enhance the guidelines and requirements for managing concussions and head injuries in school and youth sports programs. The amendments include the development and implementation of guidelines by the department of education and the department of health, in collaboration with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, to educate various stakeholders about the risks of concussions. It mandates that youth athletes and their parents or guardians sign an information sheet about concussions before returning to play. The bill also requires school districts to use training materials from the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention or similar resources for educating coaches, volunteers, school nurses, and encourages teachers and aides to complete training on concussions and traumatic brain injuries.

The bill encourages school districts to conduct baseline neuropsychological testing for student athletes and to provide information to parents and guardians about the risks of concussions. It stipulates that athletes suspected of sustaining a concussion must be removed from play and cannot return until they have been evaluated and cleared by a licensed physician. The bill introduces a new requirement for school districts to designate a licensed athletic trainer for each high school within the district, who will be available at all recreational and athletic events addressed by this section. The bill will take effect upon passage. Notably, the bill includes insertions that specify the requirement for an athletic trainer and the deletion of the word "statute," replacing it with "section," to clarify the scope of the requirement.

Statutes affected:
7872: 16-91-3