California Assembly Bill (AB) 2007, known as the Concussion Management in Youth Sports Act, was signed by Governor Brown on September 23, 2016 and took effect on January 1, 2017. The bill requires youth sports organizations to follow certain concussion protocols.
Prior to the enactment of AB 2007, existing law required schools that offer an athletic program to immediately remove an athlete from an athletic activity for the remainder of the day if the athlete is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury, and prohibits the athlete from returning to the athletic activity until the athlete is evaluated and cleared by a licensed health care provider trained in the management of concussions. Existing law also required that annually, a concussion and head injury information sheet to be signed and returned by the athlete and athlete’s parent or guardian before the athlete’s initiating practice or competition.
AB 2007 now applies these provisions to athletes participating in youth sports organizations, as defined to include local governmental agencies and other entities that sponsor or conduct amateur sports competitions, training, camps, or clubs in which persons 17 years of age or younger participate in any of the 27 designated sports.
If your agency sponsors or conducts amateur sports competitions, training, camps, or clubs for sports designated on the legislation’s list, please review the legislation thoroughly to ensure compliance.
For questions on this subject, members can contact their assigned Risk Manager.