Concussions in Youth Athletes - Alaska

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Alaska

Governor Parnell signed HB 15 into law on May 27, 2011, which was effective on August 25, 2011. This law can be found at sections 14.30.142 through 14.30.143 of the Alaska Code, under the title dealing with education, libraries and museums and the chapter on pupil health. (Alaska Stat. § 14.30.142 through § 14.30.143).

Section 14.30.142 requires school districts to develop guidelines to inform and educate parents, students and coaches on concussions, including standards on the return to play. It requires schools to have parent/guardian annually sign a written information sheet about concussions before their child can play. The law also mandates that a student suspected of sustaining a concussion must be removed and may not return to play until evaluated by a defined health care provider and given written clearance. This section also discusses immunity of these health care providers. Section 14.30.143 discusses immunity of school districts for injuries sustained by student athletes.

The entire official version of the Alaska Code, including these new sections, is available online at:http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/folio.asp

On March 28, 2012, HB 369 was introduced proposing to amend Section 14.30.142 of the Alaska Statutes, specifically paragraph (d) to include the phrase “participation in practice or game” precluding such activity until the student has been evaluated and cleared for participation in writing.

The text of HB 369 is available on line at:

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get bill text.asp?hsid=HB0369A&session=27

Governor Parnell signed HB 15 into law on May 27, 2011, which was effective on August 25, 2011. This law can be found at sections 14.30.142 through 14.30.143 of the Alaska Code, under the title dealing with education, libraries and museums and the chapter on pupil health. (Alaska Stat. § 14.30.142 through § 14.30.143).

Section 14.30.142 requires school districts to develop guidelines to inform and educate parents, students and coaches on concussions, including standards on the return to play. It requires schools to have parent/guardian annually sign a written information sheet about concussions before their child can play. The law also mandates that a student suspected of sustaining a concussion must be removed and may not return to play until evaluated by a defined health care provider and given written clearance. This section also discusses immunity of these health care providers. Section 14.30.143 discusses immunity of school districts for injuries sustained by student athletes.

The entire official version of the Alaska Code, including these new sections, is available online at:

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/folio.asp

The text of the bill can be viewed online at:

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=HB0015Z&session=27