Concussions in Youth Athletes - Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania

The Governor approved a bill on November 9, 2011. This law can be found at 24 P.S. section 5321 through 24 P.S. section 5323 of the Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated Statutes of the education title, and will be effective July 1, 2012. (24 P.S. §§ 5321- 5323).

This law requires that the Department of Health and the Department of Education develop guidelines and materials on concussions. Each year, a student participating in an athletic activity must have a parent/guardian sign acknowledgement of receipt of this information before the student may participate in the activity. The law requires any student suspected of sustaining a concussion must be removed from participation at that time and is not allowed to resume participation until evaluated by a medical professional and given written clearance. The law also requires that coaches receive concussion training once each school year.

The sponsors of youth athletic activities not addressed by this act are encouraged to follow the guidance set forth in the act.

The official versions of these sections are not currently available online.

The text of the bill can be viewed online at:

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0200&pn=1637

There has been no legislation introduced in 2012 to amend or repeal the current Pennsylvania law.