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H.B. 415

             1     

PROTECTION OF ATHLETES WITH HEAD INJURIES ACT

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Paul Ray

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Allen M. Christensen

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies Title 26, Chapter 53, Protection of Athletes with Head Injuries Act,
             10      by amending the responsibilities of an amateur sports organization or its agent.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    amends definitions;
             14          .    requires that each agent of an amateur sports organization be aware of the
             15      organization's concussion and head injury policy;
             16          .    requires that an amateur sports organization or its agent immediately remove a child
             17      from participating in a sporting event if the organization or agent knows or should
             18      have known the child sustained a concussion or traumatic head injury; and
             19          .    makes technical changes.
             20      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             21          None
             22      Other Special Clauses:
             23          None
             24      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             25      AMENDS:
             26          26-53-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 97
             27          26-53-201, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 97


             28          26-53-301, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 97
             29     
             30      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             31          Section 1. Section 26-53-102 is amended to read:
             32           26-53-102. Definitions.
             33          As used in this chapter:
             34          (1) "Agent" means a coach, teacher, employee, representative, or volunteer.
             35          (2) (a) "Amateur sports organization" means, except as provided in Subsection (2)(b):
             36          (i) a sports team;
             37          (ii) a public or private school;
             38          (iii) a public or private sports league;
             39          (iv) a public or private sports camp; or
             40          (v) any other public or private organization that organizes, [operates,] manages, or
             41      sponsors a sporting event for its members, enrollees, or attendees.
             42          (b) "Amateur sports organization" does not include a professional:
             43          (i) team;
             44          (ii) league; or
             45          (iii) sporting event.
             46          (3) "Child" means an individual who is under the age of 18.
             47          (4) "Qualified health care provider" means a health care provider who:
             48          (a) is licensed under Title 58, Occupations and Professions; and
             49          (b) may evaluate and manage a concussion within the health care provider's scope of
             50      practice.
             51          (5) (a) "Sporting event" means any of the following athletic activities that is organized,
             52      [operated,] managed, or sponsored by an organization:
             53          (i) a game;
             54          (ii) a practice;
             55          (iii) a sports camp;
             56          (iv) a physical education class;
             57          (v) a competition; or
             58          (vi) a tryout.


             59          (b) "Sporting event" does not include:
             60          (i) the issuance of a lift ticket or pass by a ski resort, the use of the ticket or pass, or a
             61      ski or snowboarding class or school at a ski resort, unless the skiing or snowboarding is part of
             62      a camp, team, or competition that is organized, managed, or sponsored by the ski resort[.]; or
             63          (ii) as applied to a government entity, merely making available a field, facility, or other
             64      location owned, leased, or controlled by the government entity to an amateur sports
             65      organization or a child, regardless of whether the government entity charges a fee for the use.
             66          (6) "Traumatic head injury" means an injury to the head arising from blunt trauma, an
             67      acceleration force, or a deceleration force, with one of the following observed or self-reported
             68      conditions attributable to the injury:
             69          (a) transient confusion, disorientation, or impaired consciousness;
             70          (b) dysfunction of memory;
             71          (c) loss of consciousness; or
             72          (d) signs of other neurological or neuropsychological dysfunction, including:
             73          (i) seizures;
             74          (ii) irritability;
             75          (iii) lethargy;
             76          (iv) vomiting;
             77          (v) headache;
             78          (vi) dizziness; or
             79          (vii) fatigue.
             80          Section 2. Section 26-53-201 is amended to read:
             81           26-53-201. Adoption and enforcement of concussion and head injury policy --
             82      Notice of policy to parent or guardian.
             83          Each amateur sports organization shall:
             84          (1) adopt and enforce a concussion and head injury policy that:
             85          (a) is consistent with the requirements of Section 26-53-301 ; and
             86          (b) describes the nature and risk of:
             87          (i) a concussion or a traumatic head injury; and
             88          (ii) continuing to participate in a sporting event after sustaining a concussion or a
             89      traumatic head injury;


             90          (2) ensure that each agent of the amateur sports organization is [familiar with] aware
             91      of, and has a copy of, the concussion and head injury policy; and
             92          (3) before permitting a child to participate in a sporting event of the amateur sports
             93      organization:
             94          (a) provide a written copy of the concussion and head injury policy to a parent or legal
             95      guardian of a child; and
             96          (b) obtain the signature of a parent or legal guardian of the child, acknowledging that
             97      the parent or legal guardian has read, understands, and agrees to abide by, the concussion and
             98      head injury policy.
             99          Section 3. Section 26-53-301 is amended to read:
             100           26-53-301. Removal of child suspected of sustaining concussion or a traumatic
             101      head injury -- Medical clearance required before return to participation.
             102          (1) An amateur sports organization, and each agent of the amateur sports organization,
             103      shall:
             104          (a) immediately remove a child from participating in a sporting event of the amateur
             105      sports organization if [the child is suspected of sustaining] the organization or agent knows or
             106      should have known the child sustained a concussion or a traumatic head injury; and
             107          (b) prohibit the child described in Subsection (1)(a) from participating in a sporting
             108      event of the amateur sports organization until the child:
             109          (i) is evaluated by a qualified health care provider who is trained in the evaluation and
             110      management of a concussion; and
             111          (ii) provides the amateur sports organization with a written statement from the
             112      qualified health care provider described in Subsection (1)(b)(i) stating that:
             113          (A) the qualified health care provider has, within three years before the day on which
             114      the written statement is made, successfully completed a continuing education course in the
             115      evaluation and management of a concussion; and
             116          (B) the child is cleared to resume participation in the sporting event of the amateur
             117      sports organization.
             118          (2) This section does not create a new cause of action.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-10-12 12:58 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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