Concussions in Youth Athletes - New Jersey
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Governor Christie signed AB 2743 into law on December 7, 2010. The law went into effect at the start of the 2011-2012 school year. This law can be found at sections 18A:40-41.1 through 18A:40-41.5 of the New Jersey code, and is found in the title dealing with education and the chapter on promotion of health and prevention of disease. (N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 18A:40-41.1 through 18A:40-41.5).
The law requires that the Department of Education develop and implement an interscholastic head injury prevention program to be completed by coaches and trainers involved in interscholastic sports programs as well as to develop fact sheets on concussions which must be distributed annually to the parents of athletes and which must be signed prior to an athlete’s participation that year. Each school district is required to develop written policies on concussions as well. Any student suspected of sustaining a concussion must be immediately removed and may not return until evaluated by a health care professional and given written clearance.
The official versions of these sections are not currently available online.
On January 30, 2012 Senate Bill 1228 was introduced and referred to the Education Committee, but has not been passed. The proposed legislation would amend the existing law to allow any licensed healthcare provider trained in evaluation and management of concussions to provide written return to play clearance for student-athlete who has sustained a head injury.
The text of the Senate Bill 1228 can be viewed online at:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2012/Bills/S1500/1228_I1.HTM
