Concussions in Youth Athletes - Massachusetts

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Massachusetts

Governor Patrick signed SB 2469 into law on July 8, 2010. This law can be found in chapter 111 section 222 of the Massachusetts Code. Chapter 111 deals with public health. (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 111, § 222).

This law requires that a concussion training program be developed by the division of violence and injury prevention for schools subject to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association to participate in and makes annual participation mandatory for any parent, coach, or volunteers, among others, of any extracurricular athletic activity. The law encourages the use of information from the CDC for the development of the program and requires the program to develop forms regarding concussions requiring the signature of the both the student and the student’s parent/guardian before participation in an athletic activity. If a student who is participating in extracurricular activity become unconscious during play or has suffered a concussion as diagnosed by a medical professional, that athlete may not return to the activity until cleared in writing by a health care professional. A school district is required to maintain records under this law. Although the law does not waive liability or immunity of a school district, its officers or employees, no liability is created and any person volunteering to assist with an extracurricular athletic activity is immune from damages unless willfully or wantonly negligent in act or omission.

The official versions of these sections are currently available online at:

http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXVI/Chapter111/Section222

In 2011 there were 4 bills introduced in to the Massachusetts Legislature to amend the present law, but none passed and none would significantly alter current law..

The texts of the bills can be viewed online as follows:

SB 1920 –

http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/BillHtml/17291?generalCourtId=1-appropiations bill

HB 3401 –

http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/BillHtml/16065?generalCourtId=1-appropriations bill

HB 2347 -

http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/BillHtml/13906?generalCourtId=1

HB 180 -

http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/House/H00180