AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS CONCUSSION ACT (Requires schools to implement a plan to provide academic accommodation for a student who has been diagnosed with a concussion or other brain injury.)

S2791

2026 -- S 2791
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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 Thompson, and Murray

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Sections 16-91-2 and 16-91-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-91 entitled
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"School and Youth Programs Concussion Act" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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16-91-2. Definitions.
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(1) “Healthcare professional” means a person who is licensed or registered under the laws
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of this state as a physician, a chiropractic physician, a naturopathic physician, a psychologist, a
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physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner.
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(2) “Public education provider” means a school district, a public charter school or an
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education service district.
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(3)

For the purpose of this section, the term “youth

“Youth
sports programs” means any
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program organized for recreational and/or athletic competition purposes by any school district or
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by any school participating in Rhode Island Interscholastic League Competition, and whose
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participants are nineteen (19) years of age or younger.
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16-91-3.
School district’s guidelines to be developed and implemented
School
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district’s guidelines for student athletes.
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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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SECTION 2. Chapter 16-91 of the General Laws entitled "School and Youth Programs
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Concussion Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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16-91-3.1. Form required.
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(a) The department of education shall develop a form for public education programs to use
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when a student has been diagnosed with a concussion or other brain injury.
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(b) The form required under this section must describe academic accommodations that a
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public education program may make for a student who has been diagnosed with a concussion or
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other brain injury. The accommodations must be optional for a public education program to provide

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and must be nonmedical.
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(c) The department must distribute the form developed under this section as soon as
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practicable to public education programs when:
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(1) The public education program receives notice that a student has been diagnosed with a
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concussion or other brain injury; or
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(2) Requested by an educator, a program employee, a student, a parent or a guardian.
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(d) Nothing in this subsection requires a public education program to provide any or all of
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the academic accommodation described on the form.
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(e) The state board of elementary and secondary education may adopt any rules and
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regulations necessary for the implementation of this section.
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16-91-3.2. Temporary accommodation plan for concussed students.
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(a) The department of education shall establish a procedure for public education providers
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to use to develop and implement an immediate and temporary accommodations plan for a student
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who has been diagnosed with a concussion or other brain injury by a health care professional to
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ensure the safety and recovery of the student and to reduce the risk of reinjury or additional injury
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to the student.
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(b) Upon receiving written notification from a parent or guardian that a student has been
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diagnosed with a concussion or other brain injury by a healthcare professional and that
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accommodations are being requested, a public education provider shall initiate the procedure to
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develop and implement an immediate and temporary accommodations plan.
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(c) The procedure to develop and implement an immediate and temporary accommodations
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plan shall be used by a public education provider to:
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(1) Determine if immediate physical activity limitations are necessary to ensure the safety
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and recovery of the student and to minimize the risk of reinjury or additional injury to the student,
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including activities such as physical education, recess, unstructured play and similar activities
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provided by or sponsored through the public education provider that involve running, jumping,
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climbing, throwing, catching or other movements that pose a risk of falls, collisions or physical
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injury. The public education provider shall implement any immediate physical activity limitations
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determined to be necessary.
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(2) Describe present challenges and symptoms associated with the student’s concussion or
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other brain injury.
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(3) Identify and implement immediate and temporary academic, social-emotional,
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behavioral or other necessary accommodations determined to be appropriate for the student to
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support meaningful participation in educational activities at a level that is appropriate for the

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student’s recovery.
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(4) Communicate accommodations identified under this section with:
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(i) All teachers who provide instruction to the student; and
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(ii) Other employees of the public education provider who have regular responsibilities for
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the student’s supervision or health, including school nurses, counselors, physical education
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teachers, coaches, athletic trainers and staff supervising recess or other physical activities.
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(5) Ensure that the accommodations identified under this section are:
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(i) In effect no later than ten (10) school days after written notification has been received
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by the public education provider regarding the concussion or other brain injury; and
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(ii) Reviewed as needed, but no later than every two months, based on the students’
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recovery.
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(d) The department shall make available to all public education providers the procedure
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and sample form developed under this section.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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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 require schools to implement a plan to provide academic accommodation
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for a student who has been diagnosed with a concussion or other brain injury.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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