AB 588, as amended, Fox. School athletics: concussions.
Existing law requires a school district, if it offers an athletic program, to immediately remove an athlete from an athletic activity for the remainder of the day if the athlete is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injurybegin insert,end insert and prohibits the athlete from returning to the activity until the athlete is evaluated by a licensed health care provider, trained in the management of concussions, and acting within the scope of his or her practicebegin insert,end insert and the athlete receives written clearance from the licensed health care provider to return to the activity. Existing law also requires, on a yearly basis, a concussion and head injury information sheet to be signed and returned by the athlete and athlete’s parent or guardian before the athlete’s initiating practice or competition.
This bill would apply these provisions to athletes attendingbegin insert charter schools andend insert private schoolsbegin insert,end insert and would require the information sheet to include, at a minimum, information regarding concussions and their symptoms. The bill would authorize the information to be available in a digital format, including, but not limited to, e-mail or an Internet Web site.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 49475 of the Education Code is amended
2to read:
(a) If a school districtbegin insert, charter school,end insert or private school
4elects to offer an athletic program, the school districtbegin insert, charter
5school,end insert or private school shall comply with both of the following:
6(1) An athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or
7head injury in an athletic activity shall be immediately removed
8from the activity for the remainder of the day, and shall not be
9permitted to return to the activity until he or she is evaluated by a
10licensed health care providerbegin delete,end deletebegin insert
who isend insert trained in the management
11of concussionsbegin delete,end deletebegin insert andend insert acting within the scope of his or her practice.
12The athlete shall not be permitted to return to the activity until he
13or she receives written clearance to return to the activity from that
14licensed health care provider.
15(2) On a yearly basis, a concussion and head injury information
16sheet shall be signed and returned by the athlete and the athlete’s
17parent or guardian before thebegin delete athlete’s initiatingend deletebegin insert athlete initiatesend insert
18
practice or competition. The information sheet shall include, at a
19minimum, information regarding concussions and their symptoms.
20The information may also be available in a digital format,
21including, but not limited to, e-mail or an Internet Web site.
22(b) This section does not apply to an athlete engaging in an
23athletic activity during the regular schoolday or as part of a physical
24education course required pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section
2551220.
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