Published on MomsTeam (http://www.momsteam.com)

Strong Concussion Safety Laws in Place In Majority of States
By Lindsay Barton
Created 05/21/2010 - 18:05

Rider: 
All have passed since May 2009

Football player on bench with concussion

Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia [1] have passed strong youth sports concussion safety laws since May 2009, beginning with Washington State's groundbreaking Zackery Lystedt Law [2]: 

  1. Alabama; [3]
  2. Alaska [4];
  3. Arkansas [5]*
  4. Arizona [6];
  5. California; [7]
  6. Colorado [8];
  7. Connecticut; [9]
  8. Delaware [10];
  9. District of Columbia [1];
  10. Florida [11]
  11. Idaho [12];
  12. Illinois; [13]
  13. Indiana [14];
  14. Iowa [15]; 
  15. Kansas [16];
  16. Kentucky [17];
  17. Louisiana [18];
  18. Maryland [19];
  19. Massachusetts;
    [20]
  20. Minnesota [21];
  21. Missouri [22];
  22. Nebraska [23];
  23. New Jersey; [24]
  24. New Mexico; [25]
  25. New York; [26]
  26. Nevada; [27]
  27. North Carolina [28];
  28. North Dakota [29];
  29. Oklahoma; [30]
  30. Oregon; [31]
  31. Pennsylvania; [32]
  32. Rhode Island; [33]
  33. South Dakota; [34]
  34. Texas [35];
  35. Utah [36];
  36. Virginia; [37]  [37]
  37. Washington [2]; and
  38. Wisconsin [38].

Maine [39] has passed a strong concussion safety law, which is awaiting Governor Paul LePage.

Two states (Vermont [40], and Wyoming [41]) have enacted weak sports concussion safety laws that do not fully protect youth athletes in that they fail to include one or more of the three principal components of the Zackery Lystedt law [2]: 

[42]

 

 

Legislation pending or introduced 

[43]

Youth sports concussion safety legislation has been introduced or is pending in the following nine states, one of which (Rhode Island) already has a strong concussion safety law:

  1. Hawaii
  2. Michigan
  3. Mississippi
  4. New Hampshire
  5. Ohio
  6. Rhode Island (an amendment [44] to current law under consideration (HB 5440) would broaden the scope of those medical professionals who can diagnose and manage a student-athlete's concussion; have all student-athletes undergo baseline neurocognitive tests [45] prior to the start of every sport season; and require coaches/volunteers to complete an annual refresher course).
  7. South Carolina
  8. Tennessee
  9. Vermont

Three states behind the curve

Only three states are not currently considering youth sports concussion safety bills:

  1. Georgia ( [43]bill stalled; dead for 2012 legislative calendar [46])
  2. Montana; and
  3. West Virginia (dead for 2012, despite unanimous votes [47] in both legislative chambers)
* While Arkansas does not have a stand-alone youth sports concussion safety law, the state, under a bill signed into law by Governor Jay Beebe in the spring of 2011 (ACT 1214 [5]),  now requires high school coaches in the state to undergo training every three years to prevent and treat exertional heat illnesses, dehydration and medical emergencies, concussions, and dangerous environmental issues and communicable diseases (such as MRSA), including training on how to educate parents on sports safety issues, and requires school districts in the state to develop procedures for dealing with these safety issues. 

Under guidelines issued by the Arkansas Activities Association, the state's governing body for high school sports, student-athletes suspected of having suffered a concussion must be removed from play immediately, cannot return to play within 24 hours after concussion, and only then after obtaining a written release from a medical professional current in concussion management clearing the athlete to begin a mandatory 5-day graduated return to play protocol. 

"We felt instead of passing legislation on each and every issue that we would do a comprehensive bill," said Jason Cates, ATC/LAT, President of the Arkansas Athletic Trainers' Association.  In an email to MomsTeam, Cates said he was "beyond frustrated, at publication after publication making us look like [Arkansas was] sitting on our backsides doing nothing.  We just went at it a different way."  In fact, Cates says, he hears from his peers "all the time saying they wished they would have followed [Arkansas'] blue print."

For statistics about concussions in high school sports, click here [48].

For myths about concussions, click here [49].

Sources: Numerous, including National Coalition on Youth Sport Concussion, Safe Kids USA, NFL Health and Safety [50] and the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

Most recently updated May 22, 2012

 

 

Teaser title: 
State Laws Protect Youth Athletes Who Suffer Concussions
Teaser image: 
Teaser text: 

Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia have passed strong youth sports concussion safety laws since May 2009.  Of the remaining fifteen states, two have enacted weak concussion safety laws, ten are considering strong laws or amendments to such laws, and four have no concussion bills pending.  

Related articles: 
Concussion Signs and Symptoms [51]
Concussion Signs Requiring Immediate Hospitalization [52]
Pre-Season Concussion Safety Meetings [53]
No Same Day Return To Play After Concussion [54]
More Conservative Approach to Concussions in Children, Teens Recommended [55]
Athletic Trainer Plays Critical and Unique Role In Concussion Safety [56]
Sports Concussion Myths and Misconceptions [57]
Kids in Sports
Source URL: http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/majority-of-states-have-youth-sports-concussion-safety-laws

Links:
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[5] http://www.arkansashouse.org/public/php/pdf_viewer.php?pdf=ftp://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/2011/Public/HB1743.pdf
[6] http://www.momsteam.com/node/3392
[7] http://www.momsteam.com/node/4053
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[11] http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/0256/BillText/Filed/HTML
[12] http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2012/H0548.pdf#xml=http://legislature.search.idaho.gov/isysquery/dab96f41-9f39-4e5d-a7f1-37b306037bad/6/hilite/
[13] http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=84&GA=97&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=150&GAID=11&LegID=54946&SpecSess=&Session=
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[17] http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/12rs/hb281.htm
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[25] http://www.momsteam.com/node/3334
[26] http://www.momsteam.com/node/4054
[27] http://leg.state.nv.us/Session/76th2011/Bills/AB/AB455_EN.pdf
[28] http://www.momsteam.com/node/3508
[29] http://www.momsteam.com/node/3391
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[36] http://www.momsteam.com/node/3369
[37] http://www.momsteam.com/node/3333
[38] http://www.momsteam.com/node/4667
[39] http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0084&item=1&snum=125
[40] http://www.momsteam.com/node/3507
[41] http://www.momsteam.com/node/3371
[42] http://fast.wistia.com/embed/iframe/dae8223603?videoWidth=640&videoHeight=360&controlsVisibleOnLoad=true&autoPlay=true&popover=true&plugin[postRoll][version]=v1&plugin[postRoll][text]=For comprehensive youth sports concussion safety information, click here.&plugin[postRoll][link]=http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/concussion-safety&plugin[postRoll][style][backgroundColor]=#050505&plugin[postRoll][style][color]=#38c0f2&plugin[postRoll][style][fontSize]=36px&plugin[postRoll][style][fontFamily]=Gill Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif&plugin[socialbar][version]=v1&plugin[socialbar][buttons]=embed-email-twitter-googlePlus-facebook&plugin[socialbar][tweetText]=Education (td)
[43] http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/08/2683628/concussion-bill-headed-to-gov.html
[44] ttp://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText11/HouseText11/H5440.pdf
[45] http://www.momsteam.com/node/801
[46] http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-government/legislature-no-action-on-1385745.html
[47] http://athleticbusiness.com/articles/lexisnexis.aspx?lnarticleid=1623430335&lntopicid=136030023
[48] http://www.momsteam.com/node/118
[49] http://www.momsteam.com/node/145
[50] http://nflhealthandsafety.com/zackery-lystedt-law/states/
[51] http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/concussion-signs-and-symptoms-physical-cognitive-emotional-sleep-related
[52] http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/signs-requiring-immediate-hospitalization-after-concussion
[53] http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/concussion-safety/general/pre-season-concussion-safety-meetings-every-team-should-have
[54] http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/no-same-day-return-play-after-concussion
[55] http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/concussion-safety/more-conservative-approach-concussions-in-children-teens-recommended
[56] http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/athletic-trainer-plays-key-role-in-concussion-recognition-evaluation-on-sports-sideline
[57] http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/debunking-common-sports-concussion-myths