California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2007

Introduced by Assembly Member McCarty

February 16, 2016

An act to add Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 124235) to Chapter 4 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to youth athletics.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2007, as introduced, McCarty. Youth athletics: youth sports organizations: concussions or head injuries.

Existing law requires a school district, charter school, or private school, 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 injury, and prohibits the athlete from returning to the athletic 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 practice, and the athlete receives written clearance from the licensed health care provider to return to the athletic 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 additionally apply these provisions to athletes participating in youth sports organizations, as defined.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 124235)
is added to Chapter 4 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and
Safety Code, to read:

 

Article 2.5.  Youth Sports Concussion Protocols

 

124235.  

(a) A youth sports organization that elects to offer an
athletic program shall comply with both of the following:

(1) An athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or
head injury in an athletic activity shall be immediately removed
from the athletic activity for the remainder of the day, and shall
not be permitted to return to the athletic activity until he or she is
evaluated by a licensed health care provider. The athlete shall not
be permitted to return to the athletic activity until he or she receives
written clearance to return to the athletic activity from a licensed
health care provider. If the licensed health care provider determines
that the athlete sustained a concussion or a head injury, the athlete
shall also complete a graduated return-to-play protocol of no less
than seven days in duration under the supervision of a licensed
health care provider.

(2) On a yearly basis, a concussion and head injury information
sheet shall be signed and returned by the athlete and, if the athlete
is 17 years of age or younger, by the athlete’s parent or guardian,
before the athlete initiates practice or competition.

(b) As used in this section, the following terms have the
following meanings:

(1) “Licensed health care provider” means a licensed health
care provider who is trained in the management of concussions
and is acting within the scope of his or her practice.

(2) “Youth sports organization” means an organization that
sponsors or conducts athletic competitions, camps, or clubs in
which persons 17 years of age or younger participate.

(c) This section shall not be construed to prohibit a youth sports
league, or any other appropriate entity, from adopting and enforcing
rules intended to provide a higher standard of safety for athletes
than the standard established under this section.