Concussion Legislation Proposed in Iowa

[DesMoines]

There's a piece of legislation that's cleared committee in the Iowa legislature that's on our local association's radar. It could -- I think probably would -- make officials legally responsible for observing the symptoms of a concussion and removing a player from a game. Does anyone else out there have this?

I've pasted the summary and a link to the full bill below.

We've sent notes/letters to the bill sponsors and our own representatives outlining what guidance and training are already available (Iowa HS associations, NFHS, NASO, etc.) and in place, but this is something that's tough for them to vote against. Any thoughts or experience dealing with anything like this elsewhere would be appreciated.

(Iowa) House File 385
HOUSE FILE 385 BY KOESTER and LOFGREN
An Act concerning the protection of student athletes from concussions and other brain injuries.

EXPLANATION
This bill directs the board of directors of each public school district and the authorities in charge of each nonpublic school to work in concert with the Iowa high school athletic association and the Iowa girls high school athletic union to distribute guidelines and other pertinent information and forms to inform and educate coaches, student athletes, and parents and guardians of student athletes of the risks, signs, symptoms, and behaviors consistent with a sports-related concussion or brain injury, including the danger of continuing to participate in athletic activities after a concussion or brain injury.

The bill requires school districts and nonpublic schools to annually provide the parent or guardian of a student athlete with a concussion and brain injury information sheet which must be signed and returned before the student athlete may participate in an extracurricular interscholastic athletic activity for grades seven through 12.

The bill provides that if a student athlete’s coach or contest official observes signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion or brain injury in an interscholastic athletic practice or game, the student athlete must be removed from participation.

The bill provides that a student athlete removed from participation shall not recommence participation until the student athlete has been evaluated by a licensed health care provider, defined as a physician, physician assistant, chiropractor, advanced registered nurse practitioner, nurse, or athletic trainer licensed by a board designated under Code section 147.13, trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and other head injuries and received written clearance to return to play.

The bill directs the board of directors of each school district and the authorities in charge of each nonpublic school to adopt rules and procedures necessary to carry out the requirements of the bill.

http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/lin...Introduced.pdf