New legislation begin proposed in California could stop youth sports players from returning to play after a head injury occurs.
The Assembly Bill 25, which was unveiled Tuesday, by Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi, is part of a nationwide push to take decisions out of the hands of coaches and players about when to allow minors to return to a game after sustaining a head injury.
AB 25 would expand upon a new bylaw enacted by the California Interscholastic Federation requiring high school athletes suffering a concussion to be removed from the game immediately and cleared by a medical professional before returning. The bill would make the federation’s high school requirement a state law.
It also would require parents or guardians of athletes to receive and sign a fact sheet about concussions and head injuries before practices, games or meets begin each year. Athletes of both sexes would be affected, regardless of the sport. The widest-ranging aspect, however, is that AB 25 would extend the requirements to junior high schools, elementary schools and youth sports of all types by requiring compliance by nonprofit groups that use school or other public facilities or grounds.
It would not apply to college teams, private schools, adult leagues, or to youth leagues that use private facilities such as a church field or gymnasium.
The measure would not require schools or leagues to foot the bill for a medical professional’s evaluation, so families or their insurance providers would be responsible for any costs incurred for the medical treatment.
The bill was announced at a news conference yesterday that included former Oakland Raiders Fred Biletnikoff, Jim Otto and Morris Bradshaw, former San Francisco 49ers Keena Turner and Eric Davis, and officials of the National Football League, California Interscholastic Federation, California Athletic Trainers Association and California Brain Injury Association.
If you or someone you know has suffered a traumatic brain injury, contact the head injury lawyers at Alexander Law Group, LLP, LLP immediately for a free and confidential consultation.
