JUNEAU, Alaska — The House and Senate have signed off on a measure which would require student athletes, suspected of suffering a concussion, to be removed from play until cleared by a licensed medical professional.
The House bill (HB 15) is sponsored by Rep. Mike Doogan (D-Anchorage) and would also set up guidelines to educate parents, players, and coaches about brain injuries.
It passed with unanimous support in the Senate, Friday.
The bill does not target any specific sport, though it’s modeled after legislation recently passed in Washington State, where lawmakers passed what’s known as the Zackery Lystedt Law.
Lystedt is a former middle-school football player who suffers lifelong brain damage as a result of returning to play after having experienced a concussion.
HB 15 should be on Gov. Parnell’s desk shortly.
