PRESS RELEASE: Gov. Reynolds Signs New Concussion Legislation to Protect Iowa Students

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds held a signing ceremony this morning for House File 2442, an update to Iowa’s 2011 Youth Sports and Concussion Law. Here’s a summary of what’s new:

1. Prior legislation required that a coach, official, or licensed health care provider must remove a student from activity upon the observation of any signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion or brain injury. The new law adds “emergency medical care providers” to the list of individuals who may require that a student immediately be removed from an interscholastic activity. The student may only return to sports and activities when he or she has written clearance from a licensed health care professional.
2. New to HF 2442 is a requirement for schools to deploy “return-to-learn” (RTL) procedures, which ensure that a child receives critical supports and accommodations in the classroom during the recovery period after a brain injury. In best-practice guidelines for concussion management, a gradual “return-to-play” (RTP) procedure (which guides a safe return to sports activities) occurs only after the child has successfully returned to full pre-injury performance in the classroom (RTL).
3. The new law offers limited liability for schools who follow “return-to-play” protocols and who provide emergency medical or health professionals at school athletic events—as long as the professionals act reasonably, in good faith, and in the best interest of student athletes without undue influence from school or coaching officials. Limited liability also extends to emergency medical or health professionals who volunteer at school athletic events, with the same caveats. The Iowa Athletic Trainers’ Society successfully led efforts around this limited liability section.
4. In 2015 the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa (BIAIA) began preparing for this day. BIAIA spearheaded the development of a statewide consortium of state agencies as well as health care, rehabilitation, education, and athletic organizations to form the Iowa Concussion Consortium (ICC). Members of the ICC worked to identify national evidence-based “return-to-play” and “return-to-learn” protocols and adapt them for Iowa, gaining the endorsements of the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Department of Education. The “REAP” guidelines are the current endorsed protocols for RTP and RTL and were distributed to all Iowa public school administrators in 2016. The ICC has also recently launched a concussion training program and a concussion speakers bureau composed of health and athletic professionals.

For more information about the Iowa Concussion Consortium or the current RTP and RTL protocol called “REAP,” visit iowaconcussion.org, email icc@biaia.org or call 855-444-6443.

READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE:

BIAIA Concussion Bill FULL RELEASE 4-26-18