2018 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 40 - Public Health and Safety
RS 40:1087.1 - Comprehensive sports injury management program for student athletics

PART VII. YOUTH SPORTS INJURY

SUBPART A. COMPREHENSIVE SPORTS INJURY

MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

§1087.1. Comprehensive sports injury management program for student athletics

            A. Each high school that sponsors or sanctions any athletic activity in this state, and which requires a participating student to regularly practice or train and compete, is subject to the terms of the injury management program provided for in Subsections B through F of this Section.

            B. The injury management program shall:

            (1) Establish a set of injuries to be classified as "serious sports injuries" for the purposes of the program and define the signs and symptoms of such injuries.

            (2) Require that any coach, game official, on-field licensed healthcare provider, or athletic trainer remove a student from practice, training, or competition if any of the following circumstances occur:

            (a) The student reports any defined sign or symptom of a serious sports injury.

            (b) The coach or athletic trainer determines that the student exhibits any defined sign or symptom of a serious sports injury.

            (c) The coach is notified that the student has reported or exhibited any defined sign or symptom of a serious sports injury by any of the following persons:

            (i) A licensed, registered, or certified medical practitioner operating within their respective scope of practice.

            (ii) A licensed athletic trainer.

            (iii) Any other licensed, registered, or certified individual whose scope of practice includes the recognition of symptoms associated with serious sports injuries.

            (iv) An official responsible for judging or supervising the athletic competition.

            (3) Ensure that any student who, in accordance with the provisions of this Subpart, is removed from practice, training, or competition:

            (a) Shall, as soon as practicable after reporting or exhibiting any sign or symptom of a serious sports injury, be examined by a health professional duly licensed in this state to provide healthcare services or medical treatment.

            (b) May be allowed to return to practice, training, or competition only after the student provides to the coach and an athletic trainer written authorization from a health professional duly licensed in this state to provide healthcare services or medical treatment.            (4) Require that each coach or official in school-sponsored or school-sanctioned athletic activities receive documented training regarding the nature and risks of serious sports injuries.

            (5) Subject to availability of financial resources and supply of the necessary workforce, rely to the greatest possible extent on athletic trainers licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners to provide athletic health care at high school athletic competitions.

            C. The school shall ensure that before a student is allowed to participate in any school-sponsored or school-sanctioned athletic activity, the student and the parent or guardian of the student shall document that they have viewed information, provided in written or verifiable electronic form by the school or school district, regarding risks of serious sports injuries.

            D. This Section does not create any liability for, or create a cause of action against, a school, its officers, or its employees.

            E. To carry out the duties prescribed in this Subpart, a school may contract for and accept private contributions, gifts, and grants, or in-kind aid from the federal government, the state, or any other source.

            F. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) shall promulgate, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, any rules necessary to implement the sports injury management program provided for in this Subpart. In developing such rules, BESE may engage and solicit input from the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, and may incorporate recommendations of those groups in any final rules providing for a sports injury management program.

            G. No school or school system shall be required to incur any financial cost related to the implementation of this Section, unless funds are appropriated by the legislature for such purpose.

            H. The provisions of this Subpart shall not apply to concussions, as the protocols specific to these injuries shall be governed by the Louisiana Youth Concussion Act.

            Acts 2011, No. 352, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1299.186 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S; Acts 2018, No. 206, §4.