AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS CONCUSSION ACT (Replaces the existing chapter on this subject by requiring school districts to organize concussion oversight teams, develop removal-from-play, return-to-play, and return-to-learn protocols, and develop a concussion brochure.)

S2782

2026 -- S 2782
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS CONCUSSION ACT

Introduced By:
Senators Felag, LaMountain, and Burke

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by
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adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 91.2
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SCHOOL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS CONCUSSION ACT
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16-91.2-1. Definitions.

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For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
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(1) "Athletic trainer" means an athletic trainer licensed under chapter 60 of title 5, who is
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working under the supervision of a physician.
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(2) "Coach" means any volunteer or employee of a school who is responsible for organizing
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and supervising students to teach them or train them in the fundamental skills of an interscholastic
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athletic activity. "Coach" refers to both head coaches and assistant coaches.
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(3) "Concussion" means a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain caused
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by a traumatic physical force or impact to the head or body, which may include temporary or
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prolonged altered brain function resulting in physical, cognitive, or emotional symptoms or altered
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sleep patterns and which may or may not involve a loss of consciousness.
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(4) "Interscholastic athletic activity" means any organized school-sponsored or school-
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sanctioned activity for students, generally outside of school instructional hours, under the direction
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of a coach, athletic director, or band leader, including, but not limited to, baseball, basketball,
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cheerleading, cross country track, fencing, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey,

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lacrosse, marching band, rugby, soccer, skating, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track
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(indoor and outdoor), ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling. All interscholastic
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athletics are deemed to be interscholastic activities.
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(5) "Nurse" means a person who is employed by or volunteers at a school and is licensed
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under chapter 34 of title 5, as a registered nurse, practical nurse, or advanced practice registered
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nurse.
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(6) "Physician" means a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches by
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the board of medical licensure and discipline.
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(7) "Physician assistant" means a physician assistant licensed under chapter 54 of title 5.
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(8) "Student" means an adolescent or child enrolled in a school.
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16-91.2-2. School district guidelines to be developed and implemented.

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(a) The governing body of each public or charter school and the appropriate administrative
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officer of a private school with students enrolled who participate in an interscholastic athletic
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activity shall appoint or approve a concussion oversight team. Each concussion oversight team shall
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establish a return-to-play protocol, based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence consistent with the
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, for a student's return to interscholastic
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athletics practice or competition following a force or impact believed to have caused a concussion.
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(b) Each concussion oversight team shall also establish a return-to-learn protocol, based on
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peer-reviewed scientific evidence consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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guidelines, for a student's return to the classroom after that student is believed to have experienced
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a concussion, whether or not the concussion took place while the student was participating in an
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interscholastic athletic activity.
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(c) Each concussion oversight team shall include, to the extent practicable, at least one
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physician. If a school employs an athletic trainer, the athletic trainer shall be a member of the school
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concussion oversight team to the extent practicable. If a school employs a nurse, the nurse shall be
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a member of the school concussion oversight team to the extent practicable. At a minimum, a school
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shall appoint a person who is responsible for implementing and complying with the return-to-play
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and return-to-learn protocols adopted by the concussion oversight team. At a minimum, a
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concussion oversight team may be composed of only one person and this person need not be a
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licensed healthcare professional; provided, however, the person shall not be a coach. A school may
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appoint other licensed healthcare professionals to serve on the concussion oversight team.
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16-91.2-3. Student participation in interscholastic activity -- Concussion brochure.

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A student shall not participate in an interscholastic athletic activity for a school year until
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the student and the student's parent or guardian or another person with legal authority to make

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medical decisions for the student have signed a form for that school year that acknowledges
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receiving and reading written information that explains concussion prevention, symptoms,
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treatment, and oversight and that includes guidelines for safely resuming participation in an athletic
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activity following a concussion. The form shall be approved by the commissioner of elementary
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and secondary education.
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16-91.2-4. Removal of student from practice or competition upon suspicion of
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sustaining a concussion.

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(a) A student shall be removed from an interscholastic athletic practice or competition
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immediately if one of the following persons believes the student might have sustained a concussion
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during the practice or competition:
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(1) A coach;
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(2) A physician;
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(3) A game official;
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(4) An athletic trainer;
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(5) The student's parent or guardian or another person with legal authority to make medical
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decisions for the student;
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(6) The student; or
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(7) Any other person deemed appropriate under the school's return-to-play protocol.
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(b) This section shall also apply to youth sports programs.
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16-91.2-5. Requirements for return to practice or competition.

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(a) A student removed from an interscholastic athletic practice or competition under § 16-
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91.2-4 shall not be permitted to practice or compete again following the force or impact believed
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to have caused the concussion until:
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(1) The student has been evaluated, using established medical protocols based on peer-
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reviewed scientific evidence consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines,
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by a treating physician chosen by the student or the student's parent or guardian or another person
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with legal authority to make medical decisions for the student, an athletic trainer, an advanced
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practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant;
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(2) The student has successfully completed each requirement of the return-to-play protocol
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established under this section necessary for the student to return to play or practice;
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(3) The student has successfully completed each requirement of the return-to-learn protocol
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established under this section necessary for the student to return to learn;
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(4) The treating physician, the athletic trainer, or the physician assistant has provided a
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written statement indicating that, in that person’s professional judgment, it is safe for the student to

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return to play or practice and return to learn; and
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(5) The student and the student's parent or guardian or another person with legal authority
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to make medical decisions for the student:
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(i) Have acknowledged that the student has completed the requirements of the return-to
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play and return-to-learn protocols necessary for the student to return to play or practice;
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(ii) Have provided the treating physician's, athletic trainer's, advanced practice registered
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nurse's, or physician assistant's written statement under subsection (a)(4) of this section to the
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person responsible for compliance with the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols under § 16-
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91.2-2(c) and the person who has supervisory responsibilities under subsection (b) of this section;
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and
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(iii) Have signed a consent form indicating that the person signing:
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(A) Has been informed concerning and consent to the student participating in returning to
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play or practice in accordance with the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols;
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(B) Understands the risks associated with the student returning to play or practice and
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returning to learn and will comply with any ongoing requirements in the return-to-play and return
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to-learn protocols; and
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(C) Consents to the disclosure to appropriate persons, consistent with the federal Health
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Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-191), of the treating physician's,
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athletic trainer's, physician assistant's, or advanced practice registered nurse's written statement
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under subsection (a)(4) of this section and, if any, the return-to-play and return-to-learn
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recommendations of the treating physician, the athletic trainer, the physician assistant, or the
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advanced practice registered nurse, as the case may be.
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(b) A coach of an interscholastic athletics team may not authorize a student's return to play
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or practice or return to learn. The district superintendent, or designee, in the case of a public
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elementary or secondary school, the chief school administrator, or designee, in the case of a charter
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school, or the appropriate administrative officer, or designee, in the case of a private school shall
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supervise an athletic trainer or other person responsible for compliance with the return-to-play
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protocol and shall supervise the person responsible for compliance with the return-to-learn
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protocol. The person who has supervisory responsibilities under this subsection may not be a coach
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of an interscholastic athletics team.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 16-91 of the General Laws entitled "School and Youth Programs
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Concussion Act" is hereby repealed in its entirety.
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CHAPTER 16-91
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School and Youth Programs Concussion Act

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16-91-1. Findings of fact.
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The general assembly hereby finds and declares: (1) Concussions are one of the most
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commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational
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activities. A concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or body that causes the brain to
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move rapidly inside the skull. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death is significant when a
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concussion or head injury is not properly evaluated and managed.
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(2) Concussions are a type of brain injury that can range from mild to severe and can disrupt
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the way the brain normally works. Concussions can occur in any organized or unorganized sport
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or recreational activity and can result from a fall or from players colliding with each other, the
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ground, or with obstacles. Concussions occur with or without loss of consciousness, but the vast
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majority occurs without loss of consciousness.
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(3) Continuing to play with a concussion or symptoms of a head injury leaves the young
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athlete especially vulnerable to greater injury and even death. The general assembly also recognizes
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that, despite having generally recognized return-to-play standards for concussion and head injury,
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some affected youth athletes are prematurely returned to play resulting in actual or potential
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physical injury or death to youth athletes in the state of Rhode Island.
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(4) Concussions can occur in any sport or recreational activity, furthermore, symptoms of
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concussions may manifest themselves after the injury during school hours and in the classroom
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setting. All school nurses, coaches, parents, and athletes shall be advised of the signs and symptoms
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of concussions as well as the protocol for treatment.
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16-91-2. Definitions.
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For the purpose of this section, the term “youth sports programs” means any program
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organized for recreational and/or athletic competition purposes by any school district or by any
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school participating in Rhode Island Interscholastic League Competition, and whose participants
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are nineteen (19) years of age or younger.
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16-91-3. School district’s guidelines to be developed and implemented.
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(a) The department of education and the department of health shall work in concert with
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the Rhode Island Interscholastic League to develop and promulgate guidelines to inform and
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educate coaches, teachers, school nurses, youth athletes, and their parents and/or guardians of the
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nature and risk of concussion and head injury, including continuing to play after concussion or head
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injury. A concussion and head injury information sheet shall be signed and returned by the youth
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athlete and the athlete’s parent and/or guardian prior to the youth athlete’s return to practice or
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competition.
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(b) School districts are required to use training materials made available by the United

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States Center for Disease Control and Prevention entitled “Heads Up: Concussion in the High
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School Sports/Concussion in Youth Sports” and any updates or amendments thereto, or training
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materials substantively and substantially similar thereto. The department of education shall post
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training materials made available by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Rhode
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Island Interscholastic League on its website. All coaches and volunteers involved in a youth sport
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or activity covered by this chapter must complete a training course and a refresher course annually
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thereafter in concussions and traumatic brain injuries. All school nurses must complete a training
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course and an annual refresher course in concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Teachers and
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teachers’ aides are strongly encouraged to complete the training course in concussions and
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traumatic brain injuries. Training may consist of videos, classes, and any other generally accepted
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mode and medium of providing information.
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(c) School districts are encouraged to have all student athletes perform baseline
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neuropsychological testing, computerized or otherwise. Parents and/or guardians shall be provided
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with information as to the risk of concussion and/or traumatic brain injuries prior to the start of
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every sport season and they shall sign an acknowledgement as to their receipt of such information.
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(d) A youth athlete, who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury in a practice
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or game, shall be removed from competition at that time.
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(e) A youth athlete, who has been removed from play, may not return to play until the
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athlete is evaluated by a licensed physician who may consult with an athletic trainer, all of whom
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shall be trained in the evaluation and management of concussions. The athlete must receive written
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clearance to return to play from that licensed physician.
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(f) All school districts are encouraged to have an athletic trainer, or similarly trained
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person, at all recreational and athletic events addressed by this statute.
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16-91-4. All other youth sports program.
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All other youth sports programs not specifically addressed by this statute are encouraged
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to follow the guidance set forth in this statute for all program participants who are age nineteen
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(19) and younger.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS CONCUSSION ACT
***
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This act would replace the existing chapter on this subject by requiring school districts to
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organize concussion oversight teams, develop removal-from-play, return-to-play, and return-to-
3
learn protocols, and develop a concussion brochure. This act would repeal chapter 16-91, the
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"school and youth programs concussion act."
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This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.
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