Bill > H2038

This bill establishes an interscholastic athletic head injury safety training program within the Department of Public Health, defining "youth" as individuals 18 years or younger, "youth athletic activity" as organized sports where most participants are 18 or younger, and "youth sports organization" as any entity organizing such activities. The program, to be developed by the division of violence and injury prevention, will require annual participation from coaches, trainers, parent volunteers, medical professionals assisting with youth sports, athletic directors, marching band directors, and parents or legal guardians of youth athletes. This training will cover recognizing symptoms of serious head injuries, concussions, and second impact syndrome, and will also provide youth athletes with information on safety regulations, medical protocols for returning to play after a concussion, and the consequences of head injuries. Furthermore, the bill mandates that youth athletes provide a history of sports-related head injuries at the start of each season, requiring signatures from both the athlete and their parent or guardian, and establishes strict protocols for when a youth athlete who has lost consciousness or is suspected of having a concussion can return to play, requiring written authorization from a qualified healthcare professional. Youth sports organizations will be responsible for maintaining compliance records and will be subject to penalties for non-compliance, while the bill also clarifies that it does not waive liability for school districts and provides limited liability protection for volunteers unless they are willfully or wantonly negligent.