Governors in Florida and Kentucky have signed youth-concussion measures into law, joining 36 other states that set play limits on students who suffer the head injuries.
Legislatures in Hawaii and Michigan have also advanced bills addressing the issue.
Florida’s youth-concussion law, which Gov. Rick Scott signed late last month, contains all three provisions of the National Football League’s model youth-concussion legislation: Parents must sign a concussion-information form before their child can participate in school sports, student-athletes must be removed from play immediately if suspected of having a concussion, and concussed student-athletes must get medical clearance before returning to play. Kentucky’s new law, signed by Gov. Steve Beshear last month, has similar provisions.
Roughly half the states with youth-concussion laws require some sort of formal training for coaches as well.
