333.9155 Concussions; educational materials on nature and risk; concussion awareness training program; availability of materials and program on website; review; definitions.

Sec. 9155.

    (1) Before June 27, 2013, the department shall develop, adopt, or approve educational materials on the nature and risk of concussions.

    (2) Before June 27, 2013, the department shall develop, adopt, or approve a concussion awareness training program in an electronic format that includes all of the following:

    (a) The nature and risk of concussions.

    (b) The criteria for the removal of an athlete from physical participation in an athletic activity due to a suspected concussion and his or her return to that athletic activity.

    (c) The risks to an athlete of not reporting a suspected concussion and continuing to physically participate in the athletic activity.

    (3) As soon as they are available, the department shall make the educational materials and training program required under this section available to the public on the department's internet website. The department shall make the training program available to all individuals required to participate in the program under section 9156 and to any interested individual including school personnel, coaches, parents, students, and athletes. The department shall periodically review the training program required under this section and, for purposes of section 9156, make recommendations regarding the frequency of the training program based on changes to the training program that are developed, adopted, or approved by the department.

    (4) As used in this section and section 9156:

    (a) "Appropriate health professional" means a health professional who is licensed or otherwise authorized to engage in a health profession under article 15 and whose scope of practice within that health profession includes the recognition, treatment, and management of concussions.

    (b) "Athletic activity" means a program or event, including practice and competition, during which youth athletes participate or practice to participate in an organized athletic game or competition against another team, club, entity, or individual. Athletic activity includes participation in physical education classes that are part of a school curriculum.

    (c) "Concussion" means a type of traumatic brain injury as recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A concussion may cause a change in an individual's mental status at the time of the injury, including, but not limited to, feeling dazed, disoriented, or confused, and may or may not involve a loss of consciousness. A concussion may be caused by any type of accident or injury including, but not limited to, the following:

    (i) A fall.

    (ii) A blow, bump, or jolt to the head or body.

    (iii) The shaking or spinning of the head or body.

    (iv) The acceleration and deceleration of the head.

    (d) "Institution of higher education" means a degree or certificate granting public or private college or university, junior college, or community college.

    (e) "Organizing entity" means any of the following:

    (i) A school.

    (ii) A state or local parks and recreation department or commission or other state or local entity.

    (iii) A nonprofit or for-profit entity.

    (iv) A public or private entity.

    (f) "School" means a nonpublic school, public school, or public school academy as those terms are defined in section 5 of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.5.

    (g) "Youth athlete" means an individual who participates in an athletic activity and who is under 18 years of age. Youth athlete does not include an individual who is 17 years of age and enrolled solely in an institution of higher education.