MO HB300

Department of Health and Senior Services must develop guidelines by December 31, 2011 on concussion and brain injury risks for coaches, youth athletes, and parents, in collaboration with school boards, activities associations, and brain injury advocacy organizations.

School districts must distribute a concussion and brain injury information sheet annually to all youth athletes, with signed acknowledgment from parents or guardians required before participation.

Youth athletes suspected of sustaining a concussion or brain injury must be removed from competition immediately and withheld for no less than 24 hours.

Athletes removed from play cannot return to competition until evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in concussion management and cleared in writing by that provider.

Statewide athletic organizations with public school members must publish annual reports on concussion and head injury impacts and efforts to minimize damages, with first report due by January 31, 2012; public schools cannot join organizations that fail to comply.