NEWS

Concussion Legislation by State

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As of April 2013, 47 states (plus the District of Columbia and the city of Chicago) have adopted youth concussion laws. The NFL supports and recognizes the laws as they represent the main principles of the Lystedt Law model legislation including:

  • Inform and educate youth athletes, their parents and guardians and require them to sign a concussion information form;
  • Removal of a youth athlete who appears to have suffered a concussion from play or practice at the time of the suspected concussion; and
  • Requiring a youth athlete to be cleared by a licensed health care professional trained the evaluation and management of concussions before returning to play or practice.

Legislative updates on all 50 states are as follows:

Alabama

Alaska

  • HB 15: An Act relating to prevention and evaluation of and liability for concussions in student athletes
  • Includes three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed with NFL support; Governor Sean Parnell signed youth concussion bill into law on 5/27/11

Arizona

Arkansas

  • SB 1158
  • Includes three tenets of model legislation
  • Legislation passed with NFL support; awaiting signature by Governor Mike Beebe.

California

Colorado

  • SB 40: Jake Snakenburg Youth Concussion Act
  • Includes removal from play and return to play provision, but does not include educational component of model legislation.
  • Status: Legislation passed with NFL support; Governor John Hickenlooper signed youth concussion bill into law on 3/29/11; law will take effect 1/1/12

Connecticut

  • SB 456: An Act Concerning Student Athletes and Concussions
  • Includes three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed; Former Governor Jodi Rell signed youth concussion bill into law on 5/19/10; law went into effect on 7/1/10

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

  • HB 200
  • The bill differs slightly from the Lystedt Law in its approach; the law directs the Illinois High School Association to set guidelines on concussion management which parallel the three key provisions of the Lystedt Law
  • Status: Legislation passed; Governor Pat Quinn signed youth concussion law on 7/28/11 with support from the Chicago Bears.

Indiana

Iowa

  • HF 581/SF 367: An Act concerning the protection of students from concussions and other brain injuries
  • Includes three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed with NFL support; Governor Terry Branstad signed youth concussion bill into law on 4/7/11; law will take effect 7/1/11

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

  • SB 2469: An Act relating to safety regulations for school athletic programs
  • Contains three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed; Governor Deval Patrick signed youth concussion bill into law on 7/8/10; Law went into effect on 7/19/10

Michigan

  • SB 1122
  • Contains three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed with NFL support; Governor Rick Snyder signed youth concussion bill into law on 10/23/12.

Minnesota

Mississippi

  • Status: No pending or passed concussion legislation

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

  • LB 260 — “Concussion Awareness Act”
  • Contains three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed with NFL support; Governor Dave Heineman signed youth concussion bill into law on 4/14/11; law takes effect 7/1/12

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

  • AB 2743
  • Contains three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed with NFL support; Governor Chris Christie signed youth concussion bill into law on 12/7/10; law will take effect by the start of the 2011-12 school year

New Mexico

  • SB 1: An Act Relating to School Athletics Safety; Establishing Safety Protocols and Education Regarding Concussion and Other Head Injuries Resulting From Athletic Activities
  • Contains three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed; Former Governor Bill Richardson signed youth concussion bill into law on 3/9/10; law took effect on 8/1/10

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

  • SB 1700
  • Contains three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed; Former Governor Brad Henry signed youth concussion bill into law on 5/13/10; law took effect 7/1/10

Oregon

  • SB 348 — “Max’s Law”
  • Contains three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed; Former Governor Ted Kulongowski signed youth concussion bill into law on 6/18/09; law took effect at the beginning of the 2010-11 school year

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

  • SB 2034: School and Youth Programs Concussion Act
  • Contains three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed; Former Governor Donald Carcieri signed youth concussion bill into law on 6/9/10; law took effect 7/7/10
  • Amendment to current law under consideration (HB 5440) to broaden the scope of those medical professionals who can diagnose and manage a student-athlete’s concussion; have all student-athletes baseline or impact tested prior to the start of every sport season; coaches/volunteers must complete an annual refresher course (http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText11/HouseText11/H5440.pdf)

South Carolina

South Dakota

  • SB 149 — “An Act to establish policies for youth athletes with concussions resulting from participation in youth athletic activities”
  • Contains three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed with NFL support; Governor Dennis Daugaard signed youth concussion bill into law on 3/17/11

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

  • HB 204: Protection of Athletes with Head Injuries
  • Contains three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed with NFL support; Governor Gary Herbert signed youth concussion bill into law on 3/21/11; law took effect 5/10/11

Vermont

Virginia

  • SB 652
  • Contains three tenets of model legislation
  • Status: Legislation passed; Governor Bob McDonnell signed youth concussion bill into law on 4/11/10; law takes effect 7/1/11

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

  • SF 38
  • Status: Governor Matt Mead signed youth concussion bill into law on 3/10/11; however:
  • Law only requires that the state Superintendent of Public Institution develop a model protocol and to assist school districts in developing protocols for addressing risks associated with concussions from school athletics.
  • It does not require removal of athletes from games or practices if they are suspected to have suffered a concussion. Does not require medical clearance before return to play.

Last updated on August 16, 2012