Bill Text: IN HB1152 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Concussions and head injuries in student athletes.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-01-06 - First reading: referred to Committee on Education [HB1152 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2011-HB1152-Introduced.html
Citations Affected: IC 20-34-7; IC 34-30-2-85.7.
Synopsis: Concussions and head injuries in student athletes. Requires
the department of education, consulting with an association that
conducts, organizes, sanctions, or sponsors interscholastic high school
athletic events as the association's primary purpose, to develop and
disseminate guidelines, information sheets, and forms to inform and
educate coaches, student athletes, and parents of student athletes of the
nature and risk of concussions and head injuries. Requires that a
student athlete and the student athlete's parent must be given
information concerning head injuries and concussions and return a
form acknowledging receipt of the information to the student athlete's
coach each year before beginning practice for a sport. Provides that a
student athlete who is suspected of sustaining a head injury or
concussion must be removed from play at the time of the injury.
Provides that the student athlete may not return to play until the student
athlete has been evaluated and received written clearance from a
licensed health care provider trained in evaluating head injuries.
Provides that a health care provider who as a volunteer provides head
injury evaluations to student athletes has immunity from civil liability
for acts or omissions arising from the evaluations, except for gross
negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
Effective: July 1, 2011.
January 6, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
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Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education.
Chapter 7. Student Athletes: Concussions and Head Injuries
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "association" has the meaning set forth in IC 20-26-14-1.
Sec. 2. (a) Before July 1, 2012, the department shall develop and disseminate guidelines, information sheets, and forms to inform and educate coaches, student athletes, and parents of student athletes of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury to student athletes, including the risks of continuing to play after concussion or head injury.
(b) The department:
(1) shall consult with the association in developing; and
(2) may request the assistance of the association in disseminating;
the guidelines, information sheets, and forms required under
subsection (a).
Sec. 3. Each year, before beginning practice for an
interscholastic or intramural sport, a student athlete and the
student athlete's parent:
(1) must be given the information sheet and form developed
under section 2 of this chapter; and
(2) shall sign and return the form acknowledging the receipt
of the information to the student athlete's coach.
The coach shall maintain a file of the completed forms.
Sec. 4. A student athlete who is suspected of sustaining a
concussion or head injury in a practice or game:
(1) shall be removed from play at the time of the injury; and
(2) may not return to play until the student athlete has
received a written clearance under section 5(a) of this chapter.
Sec. 5. (a) A student athlete who has been removed from play
under section 4 of this chapter may not return to play until the
student athlete:
(1) is evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in
the evaluation and management of concussions and head
injuries; and
(2) receives a written clearance to return to play from the
health care provider who evaluated the student athlete.
(b) A licensed health care provider who evaluates a student
athlete under subsection (a) may conduct the evaluation as a
volunteer. A volunteer health care provider who authorizes a
student athlete to return to play is not liable for civil damages
resulting from an act or omission in the rendering of an evaluation,
except for acts or omissions that constitute gross negligence or
willful or wanton misconduct.