Bill Text: CT SB00769 | 2017 | General Assembly | Comm Sub


Bill Title: An Act Concerning Concussions And Youth Athletic Activities Conducted On Public Athletic Fields.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-17 - Referred by Senate to Committee on Appropriations [SB00769 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2017-SB00769-Comm_Sub.html

General Assembly

 

Substitute Bill No. 769

    January Session, 2017

 

*_____SB00769KID___030717____*

AN ACT CONCERNING CONCUSSIONS AND YOUTH ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED ON PUBLIC ATHLETIC FIELDS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 21a-432 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):

(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) "Youth athletic activity" means an organized athletic activity involving participants of not less than seven years of age and not more than nineteen years of age, who (A) (i) engage in an organized athletic game or competition against another team, club or entity or in practice or preparation for an organized game or competition against another team, club or entity, or (ii) attend an organized athletic camp or clinic the purpose of which is to train, instruct or prepare such participants to engage in an organized athletic game or competition, and (B) (i) pay a fee to participate in such organized athletic game or competition or attend such camp or clinic, or (ii) whose cost to participate in such athletic game or competition or attend such camp or clinic is sponsored by a municipality, business or nonprofit organization. "Youth athletic activity" does not include any college or university athletic activity, or an athletic activity that is incidental to a nonathletic program or lesson; [and]

(2) "Operator" means any municipality, business or nonprofit organization that conducts, coordinates, organizes or otherwise oversees any youth athletic activity but shall not include any municipality, business or nonprofit organization solely providing access to, or use of, any field, court or other recreational area, whether for compensation or not; [.] and

(3) "Public athletic field" means any state or municipally owned or operated field or open space used for sporting or sporting-related activities.

(b) Not later than January 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, each operator of a youth athletic activity shall make available a written or electronic statement regarding concussions to each youth athlete and a parent or legal guardian of each youth athlete participating in the youth athletic activity. Such written or electronic statement shall be made available upon registration of each youth athlete and shall be consistent with the most recent information provided by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding concussions. Such written or electronic statement shall include educational content addressing, at a minimum: (1) The recognition of signs or symptoms of a concussion, (2) the means of obtaining proper medical treatment for a person suspected of sustaining a concussion, (3) the nature and risks of concussions, including the danger of continuing to engage in youth athletic activity after sustaining a concussion, and (4) the proper procedures for allowing a youth athlete who has sustained a concussion to return to athletic activity.

[(c) No operator, or designee of such operator, shall be subject to civil liability for failing to make available the written or electronic statement regarding concussions pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.]

(c) On and after January 1, 2018, no operator shall conduct any youth athletic activity on a public athletic field unless such operator has (1) distributed to a parent or legal guardian of each youth athlete participating in such youth athletic activity an informed consent form that is substantially similar to the informed consent form developed or approved pursuant to subsection (e) of section 10-149b, and (2) obtained such parent or legal guardian's signature, attesting to the fact that such parent or legal guardian has (A) received a copy of such informed consent form, and (B) authorized the youth athlete to participate in the youth athletic activity.

(d) On and after January 1, 2018, no operator shall conduct any youth athletic activity on a public athletic field unless each coach of such youth athletic activity has completed (1) a training course regarding concussions developed or approved pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 10-149b, or (2) a refresher course regarding concussions, developed or approved pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 10-149b within the previous twenty-four months.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1

October 1, 2017

21a-432

KID

Joint Favorable Subst.

 
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