Gov. Snyder Signs Concussions Legislation Into Law

LANSING---Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation Tuesday aimed at protecting young athletes from concussions.

The law requires coaches to remove an athlete from play immediately if there is suspicion that the athlete may have a concussion. That athlete will only be allowed to return with a written note from a health professional.

The legislation will require the state's health department to come up with educational materials. These would be designed to inform athletes, parents and coaches about the dangers of concussion-related injuries as well as the best treatments for those injuries.

What effect will the new law have on Michigan high school sports?

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Not much, says John Johnson at the Michigan High School Athletic Association. He says that those procedures have already in place in schools across the state for the last three years.

But Johnson predicts that the legislation will go a long way toward requiring Michigan's other youth organizations to also draw up concussion policies.

University of Michigan concussion program is one of the best in the nation.

"I think we have been able to implement these changes because of the infrastructure that we have in place in our schools," Johnson said. "The legislation will raise the level of awareness in other youth groups that do not have the kind of infrastructure that we have."

The governor says that concussions are an increasing problem in youth sports.

“Research consistently has shown that concussions are a serious health threat to athletes,” Snyder said. “Coaches and parents need to be proactive in recognizing the signs of a concussion so we can protect injured children and teens from any further complications.”

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More than 140,000 high-school athletes sustain a concussion each year, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

The brain does not fully mature until people are in their mid-20s, and damage from multiple or untreated concussions can be severe.

More than half of the states already have enacted laws to protect against youth concussions, and many others have legislation in the works.

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Snyder signed two bills to inform students, coaches and parents on how to recognize a concussion.

Senate Bill 1122, sponsored by state Sen. John Proos (R-St. Joseph), requires the Michigan Department of Community Health to develop both educational materials and a concussion awareness program.

“As a father of three children, each involved in multiple sports and physical activities, my goal with this legislation was to ensure the health of our young athletes is always the top priority,” Proos said. “With the number of children suffering sports-related concussions rising at an alarming rate, we must help ensure parents, coaches and athletes can recognize the symptoms of these injuries.”

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House Bill 5697, sponsored by state Rep. Thomas Hooker (R-Lawton), requires that all youth sports coaches, employees and volunteers participate in the concussion awareness program, as well as provide the educational materials to athletes and their parents.

Coaches also must immediately remove any youth athlete suspected of having sustained a concussion from competition, and only allow their return with written clearance from a health professional.

“As a former football and wrestling coach, I am proud to focus efforts to help protect young people from traumatic brain injuries caused by concussions,” Hooker said. “Our goal is to make Michigan a safe place to play sports.”