Updates school concussion management and response protocols

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pat Fahy and 3 co-sponsors

Updates school concussion rules to require removal when suspected, clear return-to-play/learn steps, staff training, and better district oversight to protect student safety.

PRINT NUMBER 5499A

Overview

Bill number and title: S 5499, “Updates school concussion management and response protocols.”

Status: PRINT NUMBER 5499A (as of February 24, 2025)

Intro/Referral dates: Introduced February 21, 2025; Referred to the Education Committee on the same day.

Sponsor/cosponsors:

Primary: Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Cosponsors: Robert Rolison, Rachel May, Patricia Fahy

Related bills (prior sessions): S 8550, S 1074, S 3184

Purpose and intent

The bill title indicates an intention to update and strengthen the management and response to concussions in schools. While the provided materials do not include the bill’s full text, the objective appears to be aligning school concussion practices with current medical guidance and best practices, with the aim of improving student safety and ensuring consistent protocols across districts.

Key provisions (note on text availability)

The exact statutory changes are not provided in the excerpt. The official text would specify the precise requirements and changes to school concussion protocols.

Based on the title and typical legislation in this area, expected topics, if included, may involve:

Requirements for removal from activity when a concussion is suspected and criteria for medical clearance to return.
Return-to-learn and return-to-play protocols with stepwise progression.
Training and education for school staff, coaches, health personnel, and administrators.
Protocols for district-level concussion oversight, data collection, and reporting.
Parental notification and student/family accommodations.
Coordination with medical professionals and adherence to established medical guidelines. (Readers should consult the full text for exact provisions.)

Who would be affected

Students: Especially student-athletes or students suspected of sustaining a concussion.

School personnel: Coaches, teachers, school nurses, athletic directors, administrators, and any staff involved in student health and safety.

Families: Parents/guardians of students, who would receive notifications and potentially participate in return-to-learn/play plans.

School districts and schools: Responsible for implementing updated protocols, training, and recordkeeping.

Timeline and procedural notes

Introduced on February 21, 2025.

On February 24, 2025, amendments (T) were noted and the bill was printed as 5499A, with subsequent referral to the Education Committee.

As a standard process, the bill would need to pass the Education Committee, move through floor votes, and be enacted by both chambers before becoming law. The current status indicates it is moving through the early stages of the legislative process.

Next steps for readers

Obtain the full text of S 5499A to review exact changes to concussion management provisions.

Monitor committee actions in the Education Committee for amendments, a voting timeline, and potential companion bills.

Review fiscal notes or impact statements (if available) for costs or implementation considerations.

If you’d like, I can help compare this bill to the related prior-session bills (S 8550, S 1074, S 3184) once their texts are available.

Bill