The California Law is titled “Youth Sports Concussion Protocols,” and is found in the California Health Safety Code under the section referencing “Adolescent Health” (Cal Health and Safety Code §124235). AB 379 was passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor on August 30, 2019, and became effective on January 1, 2020, amending §124235. The amendments include the merging of sudden cardiac arrest protocols with previously included concussion protocols.
Section 124235 applies to “youth sports organizations” which includes any organization, business, non-profit entity or local government agency that sponsors or conducts amateur sports competitions, training camps, or clubs in which persons seventeen (17) years of age or younger participate: youth sports organizations are required to immediately remove an athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion, other head injury, who has fainted or passed out from the athletic activity for the remainder of the day. The athlete shall not be permitted to return to the athletic activity until being evaluated by and receiving written clearance to return to athletic activity from a licensed health care provider. An athlete who has sustained a concussion shall complete a graduated return to play protocol of not less than seven (7) days in duration under the supervision of a licensed health care provider. If an athlete has a cardiac condition or other heart related issue that a health care provider believes that puts the athlete at risk, then the athlete shall remain under care until cleared to play. If an athlete seventeen (17) years of age or younger has been removed from athletic activity due to a suspected concussion or due to fainting or another suspected cardiac condition, the youth sports organization shall notify a parent or a guardian of that athlete of the time and date of the injury, the symptoms observed and any treatment provided to that athlete for the injury. On an annual basis, a youth sports organization shall provide a concussion and head injury information sheet and sudden cardiac arrest information to each athlete. The information sheet shall be signed and returned by the athlete and, if the athlete is seventeen (17) years of age or younger, shall also be signed by the athlete’s parent or guardian before the athlete initiates practice or competition. The information sheet may be sent and returned through an electronic medium including, but not limited to, facsimile or electronic mail. On a yearly basis, the youth sports organization shall offer concussion and head injury education and sudden cardiac arrest prevention educational materials, to each coach, administrator, referee, umpire, or other game official of the youth sports organization. Each coach and administrator shall be required to successfully complete the concussion and head injury education offered at least once, either online or in person, before supervising an athlete in an activity of the youth sports organization and the youth sports organization shall post related information online or provide the educational materials to athletes and parents, or both. A “Licensed Health Care Provider” is one trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and other head injuries and cardiac conditions and sudden cardiac arrest, fainting, and shortness of breath.
Sudden cardiac arrest educational materials must minimally include cardiac conditions and their potential consequences, the signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest; best practices for removal of an athlete from play after fainting or a suspected cardiac condition is observed, steps for returning an athlete to athletic activity after fainting or a suspected cardiac condition is observed, and what steps to take in the event of a cardiac emergency.
Additional California concussion law is found under the California Education Code (Cal. Educ. Code Section 35179.1 (c) (6), known as the 1998 California High School Coaching Education and Training Program) and requires coaches be certified in CPR and first aid and have a basic understanding of the signs and symptoms of concussions and the appropriate response to concussions. The California law is found at sections 38131(6) and 49475 of the Education Code. (Cal. Educ. Code §35179.1(c) (6), § 38131(b) (6)), and §49475.6.
Section 49475 of the California Educational Code provides that if a school district, charter school or private school offers an athletic program, any athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion must be removed immediately from the activity for the rest of the day. The athlete is not permitted to return to activity until evaluated and cleared in writing by a licensed health care professional who is trained in the management of concussions and acting within the scope of their practice. Parents/guardians of any student wishing to participate in an athletic activity and the athlete are required to annually sign a concussion information sheet before the student can participate. If a licensed health care provider determines that an athlete has sustained a concussion, the athlete shall complete a graduated return to play protocol of not less than seven (7) days under the care of a licensed health care provider. Section 38131(b)(6) provides that youth sports league activities taking place on school facilities or on school grounds are at the discretion at the governing board for the school district and subject to terms and conditions as the board may deem proper. Section 49475.6 requires that any school offering an athletic program shall maintain and collect data on pupils sustaining a traumatic brain injury or concussion during interscholastic athletic activity.
The California Legislature also passed AB 1, which was signed by the Governor on July 31, 2019 and became effective on January 1, 2020. The “Youth Tackle Football Program Requirements” are a part of California Youth Football Act (§§124220 -124243) under the California Health and Safety Code is codified at §124241. The new law contains concussion protocols and requires that each youth tackle football program participant removed from play must comply with the provisions of §124235.
The official versions of sections 124235, 38131(6), 35179.1, 49475 and 49475.6 are currently available online at:
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=124235.&lawCode=HSC
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=38131.
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=35179.1.
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=49475.
Section 49475.6 is not available online.
The following website offer additional information regarding California concussion law:
http://www.cifstate.org/sports-medicine/concussions/index