H.B. 204 Enrolled

1

PROTECTION OF ATHLETES WITH HEAD INJURIES
2 2011 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Paul Ray
5 Senate Sponsor: John L. Valentine
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill enacts the Protection of Athletes With Head Injuries Act within the Utah
10 Health Code.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . defines terms;
14 . requires an amateur sports organization to:
15 . adopt and enforce a concussion and head injury policy; and
16 . inform a parent or legal guardian of the policy and obtain the parent's or legal
17 guardian's signature on the policy before permitting a child to participate in a
18 sporting event;
19 . describes the requirements of a concussion and head injury policy;
20 . requires removal of a child from a sporting event when the child is suspected of
21 sustaining a concussion or traumatic head injury; and
22 . prohibits a child described in the preceding paragraph from participating in a
23 sporting event of the amateur sports organization until the child receives medical
24 clearance from a qualified health care provider trained in the evaluation and
25 management of a concussion.
26 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
27 None
28 Other Special Clauses:
29 None

30 Utah Code Sections Affected:
31 ENACTS:
32 26-53-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33 26-53-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34 26-53-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35 26-53-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
36
37 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
38 Section 1. Section 26-53-101 is enacted to read:
39 CHAPTER 53. PROTECTION OF ATHLETES WITH HEAD INJURIES ACT
40 Part 1. General Provisions
41 26-53-101. Title.
42 This chapter is known as the "Protection of Athletes With Head Injuries Act."
43 Section 2. Section 26-53-102 is enacted to read:
44 26-53-102. Definitions.
45 As used in this chapter:
46 (1) "Agent" means a coach, teacher, employee, representative, or volunteer.
47 (2) (a) "Amateur sports organization" means, except as provided in Subsection (2)(b):
48 (i) a sports team;
49 (ii) a public or private school;
50 (iii) a public or private sports league;
51 (iv) a public or private sports camp; or
52 (v) any other public or private organization that organizes, operates, manages, or
53 sponsors a sporting event for its members, enrollees, or attendees.
54 (b) "Amateur sports organization" does not include a professional:
55 (i) team;
56 (ii) league; or
57 (iii) sporting event.

58 (3) "Child" means an individual who is under the age of 18.
59 (4) "Qualified health care provider" means a health care provider who:
60 (a) is licensed under Title 58, Occupations and Professions; and
61 (b) may evaluate and manage a concussion within the health care provider's scope of
62 practice.
63 (5) (a) "Sporting event" means any of the following athletic activities that is organized,
64 operated, managed, or sponsored by an organization:
65 (i) a game;
66 (ii) a practice;
67 (iii) a sports camp;
68 (iv) a physical education class;
69 (v) a competition; or
70 (vi) a tryout.
71 (b) "Sporting event" does not include the issuance of a lift ticket or pass by a ski resort,
72 the use of the ticket or pass, or a ski or snowboarding class or school at a ski resort, unless the
73 skiing or snowboarding is part of a camp, team, or competition that is organized, managed, or
74 sponsored by the ski resort.
75 (6) "Traumatic head injury" means an injury to the head arising from blunt trauma, an
76 acceleration force, or a deceleration force, with one of the following observed or self-reported
77 conditions attributable to the injury:
78 (a) transient confusion, disorientation, or impaired consciousness;
79 (b) dysfunction of memory;
80 (c) loss of consciousness; or
81 (d) signs of other neurological or neuropsychological dysfunction, including:
82 (i) seizures;
83 (ii) irritability;
84 (iii) lethargy;
85 (iv) vomiting;

86 (v) headache;
87 (vi) dizziness; or
88 (vii) fatigue.
89 Section 3. Section 26-53-201 is enacted to read:
90 Part 2. Concussion and Head Injury Policy
91 26-53-201. Adoption and enforcement of concussion and head injury policy --
92 Notice of policy to parent or guardian.
93 Each amateur sports organization shall:
94 (1) adopt and enforce a concussion and head injury policy that:
95 (a) is consistent with the requirements of Section 26-53-301 ; and
96 (b) describes the nature and risk of:
97 (i) a concussion or a traumatic head injury; and
98 (ii) continuing to participate in a sporting event after sustaining a concussion or a
99 traumatic head injury;
100 (2) ensure that each agent of the amateur sports organization is familiar with, and has a
101 copy of, the concussion and head injury policy; and
102 (3) before permitting a child to participate in a sporting event of the amateur sports
103 organization:
104 (a) provide a written copy of the concussion and head injury policy to a parent or legal
105 guardian of a child; and
106 (b) obtain the signature of a parent or legal guardian of the child, acknowledging that
107 the parent or legal guardian has read, understands, and agrees to abide by, the concussion and
108 head injury policy.
109 Section 4. Section 26-53-301 is enacted to read:
110 Part 3. Medical Clearance
111 26-53-301. Removal of child suspected of sustaining concussion or a traumatic
112 head injury -- Medical clearance required before return to participation.
113 (1) An amateur sports organization, and each agent of the amateur sports organization,

114 shall:
115 (a) immediately remove a child from participating in a sporting event of the amateur
116 sports organization if the child is suspected of sustaining a concussion or a traumatic head
117 injury; and
118 (b) prohibit the child described in Subsection (1)(a) from participating in a sporting
119 event of the amateur sports organization until the child:
120 (i) is evaluated by a qualified health care provider who is trained in the evaluation and
121 management of a concussion; and
122 (ii) provides the amateur sports organization with a written statement from the
123 qualified health care provider described in Subsection (1)(b)(i) stating that:
124 (A) the qualified health care provider has, within three years before the day on which
125 the written statement is made, successfully completed a continuing education course in the
126 evaluation and management of a concussion; and
127 (B) the child is cleared to resume participation in the sporting event of the amateur
128 sports organization.
129 (2) This section does not create a new cause of action.