Connecticut § 10-149c - Student athletes and concussions. Removal from athletic activities. Notification of parent or legal guardian. Revocation of coaching permit.

§ 10-149c. Student athletes and concussions. Removal from athletic activities. Notification of parent or legal guardian. Revocation of coaching permit.

Sec. 10-149c. Student athletes and concussions. Removal from athletic activities. Notification of parent or legal guardian. Revocation of coaching permit. (a)(1) The coach of any intramural or interscholastic athletics shall immediately remove a student athlete from participating in any intramural or interscholastic athletic activity who (A) is observed to exhibit signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion following an observed or suspected blow to the head or body, or (B) is diagnosed with a concussion, regardless of when such concussion may have occurred. Upon such removal, a qualified school employee, as defined in subsection (e) of section 10-212a, shall notify the student athlete's parent or legal guardian that the student athlete has exhibited such signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion or has been diagnosed with a concussion. Such qualified school employee shall provide such notification not later than twenty-four hours after such removal and shall make a reasonable effort to provide such notification immediately after such removal.

(2) The coach shall not permit such student athlete to participate in any supervised team activities involving physical exertion, including, but not limited to, practices, games or competitions, until such student athlete receives written clearance to participate in such supervised team activities involving physical exertion from a licensed health care professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.

(3) Following clearance pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, the coach shall not permit such student athlete to participate in any full, unrestricted supervised team activities without limitations on contact or physical exertion, including, but not limited to, practices, games or competitions, until such student athlete (A) no longer exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion at rest or with exertion, and (B) receives written clearance to participate in such full, unrestricted supervised team activities from a licensed health care professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions.

(b) The State Board of Education may revoke the coaching permit, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (i) of section 10-145b, of any coach found to be in violation of this section.

(c) For purposes of this section, “licensed health care professional” means a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 370, a physician assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 370, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to chapter 378 or an athletic trainer licensed pursuant to chapter 375a.

(P.A. 10-62, S. 2; P.A. 12-116, S. 46; P.A. 14-66, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 10-62 effective July 1, 2010; P.A. 12-116 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 14-66 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to delete reference to head injury and add provision requiring a qualified school employee to notify the parent or legal guardian of any student athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion within 24 hours of the student being removed from any athletic activity, effective July 1, 2014.