LC
35 2351
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To
enact "Georgia's Return to Play Act of 2012"; to amend Part 15 of Article 6 of
Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to miscellaneous provisions under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to
establish a return to play policy for student athletes suffering from
concussions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
This
Act shall be known and may be cited as "Georgia's Return to Play Act of
2012."
SECTION
2.
Part
15 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to miscellaneous provisions under the "Quality Basic
Education Act," is amended by inserting a new Code section as
follows:
"20-2-324.1.
(a)
Not later than January 1, 2013, the State Board of Education shall develop and
distribute to each local school board mandatory guidelines for informing and
educating coaches, student-athletes, and their parents or guardians of the
nature and risk of concussions, including criteria for removal from and return
to play and risks of not reporting the injury and continuing to
play.
(b)
Not later than July 1, 2013, each local school district shall adopt and
implement policies and procedures regarding the identification and handling of
suspected concussions in student-athletes consistent with the State Board of
Education's guidelines. Such policies shall require:
(1)
Review, on an annual basis, by each student-athlete and the student-athlete's
parent or guardian information provided by the local school division relative to
concussions in order for such student-athlete to participate in any
extracurricular physical activity. After having reviewed materials describing
the short- and long-term health effects of concussions, each student-athlete and
the student-athlete's parent or guardian shall sign a statement acknowledging
receipt of such information, in a manner approved by the State Board of
Education; and
(2)
Immediate removal from activity of any student-athlete suspected by that
student-athlete's coach, athletic trainer, or team physician of sustaining a
concussion or brain injury in a practice or game. A student-athlete who has
been removed from play and suspected to have a concussion or brain injury shall
not return to play that same day and not until:
(A)
Evaluated by an appropriate licensed health care provider as determined by the
State Board of Education; and
(B)
In receipt of written clearance to return to play from such licensed health care
provider.
(c)
The guidelines of the State Board of Education developed pursuant to this Code
section shall become effective on January 1,
2013."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.