2017 -- H 5119

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS CONCUSSION ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Bennett, Donovan, Amore, and McKiernan

     Date Introduced: January 13, 2017

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-91-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-91 entitled "School and

Youth Programs Concussion Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-91-3. School district's guidelines to be developed and implemented.

     (a) The department of education and the department of health shall work in concert with

the Rhode Island Interscholastic League to develop and promulgate guidelines to inform and

educate coaches, teachers, school nurses, youth athletes, and their parents and/or guardians of the

nature and risk of concussion and head injury, including continuing to play after concussion or

head injury. A concussion and head injury information sheet shall be signed and returned by the

youth athlete and the athlete's parent and/or guardian prior to the youth athlete's return to practice

or competition.

     (b) School districts are required to use training materials made available by the United

States Center for Disease Control and Prevention entitled "Heads Up: Concussion in the High

School Sports/Concussion in Youth Sports" and any updates or amendments thereto, or training

materials substantively and substantially similar thereto. The department of education shall post

training materials made available by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the

Rhode Island Interscholastic League on its website. All coaches and volunteers involved in a

youth sport or activity covered by this chapter must complete a training course and a refresher

course annually thereafter in concussions and traumatic brain injuries. All school nurses must

complete a training course and an annual refresher course in concussions and traumatic brain

injuries. Teachers and teachers' aides are strongly encouraged to complete the training course in

concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Training may consist of videos, classes, and any other

generally accepted mode and medium of providing information.

     (c) School districts are encouraged to have all student athletes perform baseline

neuropsychological testing, computerized or otherwise. Parents and/or guardians shall be

provided with information as to the risk of concussion and/or traumatic brain injuries prior to the

start of every sport season and they shall sign an acknowledgement as to their receipt of such

information.

     (d) A youth athlete, who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury in a

practice or game, shall be removed from competition at that time.

     (e) A youth athlete, who has been removed from play, may not return to play until the

athlete is evaluated by a licensed physician who may consult with an athletic trainer, all of whom

shall be trained in the evaluation and management of concussions. The athlete must receive

written clearance to return to play from that licensed physician.

     (f) All school districts are encouraged to have an athletic trainer, or similarly trained

person, at all recreational and athletic events addressed by this statute.

     (g) School districts are required to mandate that any female softball player who is

nineteen (19) years of age or younger, and who plays softball at either first base, third base or

pitcher position shall be required to wear a protective face mask. The protective face mask shall

be worn in both practice and games, and any mask worn must meet National Operating

Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) or American Society for Testing and

Materials (ASTM) test standards at the time of manufacture; provided, the Rhode Island

Interscholastic League shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the

requirements of this section.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 23-1 of the General Laws entitled "Department of Health" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     23-1-59. Youth sports safety - Protective face masks required.

     Any youth sports program offering girls softball shall require that any female softball

player who is nineteen (19) years of age or younger and who plays softball at either first base,

third base or pitcher position shall be required to wear a protective face mask. The protective face

mask shall be worn in both practice and games, and any mask worn must meet National

Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) or American Society for

Testing and Materials (ASTM) test standards at the time of manufacture.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS CONCUSSION ACT

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     This act would require that Interscholastic League Athletes and youth sports athletes who

are female and 19 years of age or younger and who play certain softball positions wear protective

face masks during practice and at games.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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