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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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or competition.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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generally accepted mode and medium of providing information.

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

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

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

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

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information.

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

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

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

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

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

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written clearance to return to play from that licensed physician.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Interscholastic League shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the

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requirements of this section.

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

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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face masks during practice and at games.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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