(a)(1) For the school year commencing July 1, 2010, and each school year thereafter, any person who holds or is issued a coaching permit by the State Board of Education and is a coach of intramural or interscholastic athletics shall complete an initial training course regarding concussions, developed or approved pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, prior to commencing the coaching assignment for the season of such school athletics.
(2) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year thereafter, any coach who has completed the initial training course described in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall annually review current and relevant information regarding concussions, prepared or approved pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, prior to commencing the coaching assignment for the season of such school athletics. Such annual review shall not be required in any year when such coach is required to complete the refresher course, pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection, for reissuance of his or her coaching permit.
(3) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year thereafter, a coach shall complete a refresher course, developed or approved pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this section, not later than five years after completion of the initial training course, as a condition of the reissuance of a coaching permit to such coach. Such coach shall thereafter retake such refresher course at least once every five years as a condition of the reissuance of a coaching permit to such coach.
(b) (1) The State Board of Education, in consultation with (A) the Commissioner of Public Health, (B) the governing authority for intramural and interscholastic athletics, (C) an appropriate organization representing licensed athletic trainers, and (D) an organization representing county medical associations, shall develop or approve a training course regarding concussions. Such training course shall include, but not be limited to, (i) the recognition of the symptoms of a concussion, (ii) the means of obtaining proper medical treatment for a person suspected of having a concussion, and (iii) the nature and risk of concussions, including the danger of continuing to engage in athletic activity after sustaining a concussion and the proper method of allowing a student athlete who has sustained a concussion to return to athletic activity.
(2) On or before October 1, 2014, and annually thereafter, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health and the organizations described in subparagraphs (B) to (D), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall develop or approve annual review materials regarding current and relevant information about concussions.
(3) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health and the organizations described in subparagraphs (B) to (D), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall develop or approve a refresher course regarding concussions. Such refresher course shall include, but not be limited to, (A) an overview of key recognition and safety practices, (B) an update on medical developments and current best practices in the field of concussion research, prevention and treatment, (C) an update on new relevant federal, state and local laws and regulations, and (D) for football coaches, current best practices regarding coaching the sport of football, including, but not limited to, frequency of games and full contact practices and scrimmages as identified by the governing authority for intramural and interscholastic athletics.
(c) On or before January 1, 2015, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health and the organizations described in subparagraphs (B) to (D), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, shall develop or approve a concussion education plan for use by local and regional boards of education. Each local and regional board of education shall implement such plan by utilizing written materials, online training or videos or in-person training that shall address, at a minimum: (1) The recognition of signs or symptoms of concussion, (2) the means of obtaining proper medical treatment for a person suspected of sustaining a concussion, (3) the nature and risks of concussions, including the danger of continuing to engage in athletic activity after sustaining a concussion, (4) the proper procedures for allowing a student athlete who has sustained a concussion to return to athletic activity, and (5) current best practices in the prevention and treatment of a concussion.
(d) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall prohibit a student athlete from participating in any intramural or interscholastic athletic activity unless the student athlete, and a parent or guardian of such student athlete, (1) reads written materials, (2) views online training or videos, or (3) attends in-person training regarding the concussion education plan developed or approved pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.
(e) (1) On or before July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health and the organizations described in subparagraphs (B) to (D), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, shall develop or approve an informed consent form to distribute to the parents and legal guardians of student athletes involved in intramural or interscholastic athletic activities regarding concussions. Such informed consent form shall include, at a minimum, (A) a summary of the concussion education plan developed or approved pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, and (B) a summary of the applicable local or regional board of education's policies regarding concussions.
(2) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year thereafter, each school shall provide each participating student athlete's parent or legal guardian with a copy of the informed consent form developed or approved pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and obtain such parent's or legal guardian's signature, attesting to the fact that such parent or legal guardian has received a copy of such form and authorizes the student athlete to participate in the athletic activity.
(f) The State Board of Education may revoke the coaching permit, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (i) of section 10-145b, of any coach found to be in violation of this section.
(P.A. 10-62, S. 1; P.A. 12-116, S. 45; P.A. 14-66, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 115.)
History: P.A. 10-62 effective May 18, 2010; P.A. 12-116 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 14-66 amended Subsec. (a) by changing “2011” to “2014” in Subdiv. (2) and deleting references to head injuries, amended Subsec. (b) by deleting an obsolete date, adding new Subpara. (A) re Commissioner of Public Health, redesignating existing Subparas. (A) to (C) as Subparas. (B) to (D) and changing “play” to “engage in athletic activity” in Subdiv. (1), changing “July 1, 2011” to “October 1, 2014”, adding reference to Commissioner of Public Health and changing “prepare” to “develop” in Subdiv. (2), deleting an obsolete date, adding reference to Commissioner of Public Health and adding “and current best practices” and “and treatment” in Subdiv. (3), adding Subdiv. (3)(D) re current best practices training for football coaches' refresher course, and deleting references to head injuries, added new Subsec. (c) re development of concussion education plan, added Subsecs. (d) and (e) re requirements for student athlete to participate in intramural or interscholastic athletic activity and re informed consent form, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (f), and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2014; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by making a technical change, effective July 1, 2015.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 10 - Education and Culture
Chapter 166 - Teachers and Superintendents
Section 10-144o. - Definitions.
Section 10-145a. (Formerly Sec. 10-146). - Specific components of teacher preparation programs.
Section 10-145b. - Teaching certificates.
Section 10-145c. - Election of persons certified provisionally before July 1, 1974.
Section 10-145e. - Certification for occupational subjects.
Section 10-145f. - Testing for prospective teachers.
Section 10-145g. - Regulations.
Section 10-145h. - Requirements for certification as a bilingual education teacher.
Section 10-145j. - Employment of national corps of teachers' training program graduates.
Section 10-145k. - Issuance of international teacher permit.
Section 10-145l. - Waiver from subject area major requirements for certain teachers.
Section 10-145m. - Resident teacher certificate.
Section 10-145n. - Issuance of adjunct instructor permit.
Section 10-145q. - Issuance of charter school educator permit.
Section 10-145r. - Survey on reading instruction.
Section 10-145s. - Distinguished educator designation.
Section 10-145y. - Issuance of career and technical pathways instructor permit.
Section 10-146a. - Advisory board on state certification of teachers.
Section 10-146f. - Waiver of certification requirements for bilingual teachers.
Section 10-146g. - Teachers of specialized courses.
Section 10-146h. - Report re quality of teacher preparation programs.
Section 10-146i. - Military spouse teacher permit.
Section 10-147 and 10-148. - Kindergarten certificates. Teacher to have certificate.
Section 10-148a. - Professional development for certified employees.
Section 10-148d. - Professional development for paraeducators.
Section 10-149. - Qualifications for athletic coaches of intramural and interscholastic athletics.
Section 10-149d. - Athletic directors. Definitions. Qualifications and hiring. Duties.
Section 10-149f. - Sudden cardiac arrest awareness education program. Consent form.
Section 10-149h. - Exertional heat illness awareness education program.
Section 10-150 and 10-150a. - School registers.
Section 10-151a. - Access of teacher to supervisory records and reports in personnel file.
Section 10-151c. - Nondisclosure of records of teacher performance and evaluation. Exceptions.
Section 10-151d. - Performance Evaluation Advisory Council. Responsibilities.
Section 10-151f. - Teacher evaluation and support pilot program.
Section 10-151g. - Neag School of Education study of teacher evaluation and support pilot program.
Section 10-151i. - Audits of teacher evaluation and support programs.
Section 10-152. - Discrimination in salaries of teachers.
Section 10-153b. - Selection of teachers' representatives.
Section 10-153c. - Disputes as to elections.
Section 10-153f. - Mediation and arbitration of disagreements.
Section 10-153h. - Appropriation.
Section 10-153i. - Designation of statutory agent for service of process.
Section 10-153j. - The making of service of process, notice or demand.
Section 10-153o. - Review of performance of arbitration panel members.
Section 10-153t. - Turnaround plan referees.
Section 10-154. - Homes and transportation for teachers.
Section 10-155. - Emergency teacher training program.
Section 10-155cc. - Definitions.
Section 10-155f. - Residency requirement prohibited.
Section 10-155g. - Educational Excellence Trust Fund.
Section 10-155i. - Pilot program to assist paraprofessionals.
Section 10-155j. - Development of paraprofessionals.
Section 10-155k. - School Paraeducator Advisory Council.
Section 10-155l. - Minority teacher recruitment.
Section 10-155m. - Promotion of teaching profession as career option to high school students.
Section 10-156a. - Duty-free lunch period.
Section 10-156aa. - Task Force to Diversify the Educator Workforce.
Section 10-156bb. - Minority Teacher Recruitment Policy Oversight Council.
Section 10-156c. - Military leave.
Section 10-156cc. - Report re effectiveness of minority teacher recruitment programs.
Section 10-156d. - Reemployment after military leave.
Section 10-156dd. - Student survey re minority teacher recruitment programs.
Section 10-156ee. - Duties re minority teacher recruitment.
Section 10-156gg. - Minority candidate certification, retention or residency year program.
Section 10-156ii. - Minority teacher candidate scholarship program.
Section 10-157a. - Superintendent for more than one town.
Section 10-158. - Superintendent for more than one town. Supervision districts.