(A) The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, in consultation with the State Department of Education, shall post on its website nationally recognized guidelines and procedures regarding the identification and management of suspected concussions in student athletes. The Department of Health and Environmental Control also shall post on its website model policies that incorporate best practices guidelines for the identification, management, and return to play decisions for concussions reflective of current scientific and medical literature developed by resources from or members of sports medicine community organizations including, but not limited to, the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina, the South Carolina Medical Association, the South Carolina Athletic Trainer's Association, the National Federation of High Schools, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Guidelines developed pursuant to this section apply to South Carolina High School League-sanctioned events.
(B) A local school district shall develop guidelines and procedures based on the model guidelines and procedures referenced in subsection (A).
(C) Each year prior to participation in athletics, each school district shall provide to all coaches, volunteers, student athletes, and their parents or legal guardian, an information sheet on concussions which informs of the nature and risk of concussion and brain injury, including the risks associated with continuing to play after a concussion or brain injury. The parent or legal guardian's receipt of the information sheet must be documented in writing or by electronic means before the student athlete is permitted to participate in an athletic competition or practice.
(D)(1) If a coach, athletic trainer, official, or physician suspects that a student athlete, under the control of the coach, athletic trainer, official, or physician, has sustained a concussion or brain injury in a practice or in an athletic competition, the student athlete shall be removed from practice or competition at that time.
(2) A student athlete who has been removed from play may return to play if, as a result of evaluating the student athlete on site, the athletic trainer, physician, physician assistant pursuant to scope of practice guidelines, or nurse practitioner pursuant to a written protocol determines in his best professional judgment that the student athlete does not have any signs or symptoms of a concussion or brain injury.
(3) A student athlete who has been removed from play and evaluated and who is suspected of having a concussion or brain injury may not return to play until the student athlete has received written medical clearance by a physician.
(4) In addition to posting information regarding the recognition and management of concussions in student athletes, the Department of Health and Environmental Control, in consultation with health care provider organizations, shall post on its website continuing education opportunities in concussion evaluation and management available to providers making such medical determinations. Such information must be posted by the department upon receipt from a participating health care organization.
(5) The athletic trainer, physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner who evaluates the student athlete during practice or an athletic competition and authorizes the student athlete to return to play is not liable for civil damages resulting from an act or omission in rendering this decision, other than acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or wilful, wanton misconduct. This immunity applies to an athletic trainer, physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner serving as a volunteer.
(E) For purposes of this section:
(1) "Physician" is defined in the same manner as provided in Section 40-47-20(35).
(2) "Student athlete" includes cheerleaders.
HISTORY: 2013 Act No. 33, Section 1, eff June 7, 2013.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Section 59-63-20. Age of attendance.
Section 59-63-30. Qualifications for attendance.
Section 59-63-35. Nonresident military enrollment in South Carolina high school diploma program.
Section 59-63-40. Discrimination on account of race, creed, color, or national origin prohibited.
Section 59-63-45. Reimbursement for attending another school district
Section 59-63-50. Fingerprinting of pupils.
Section 59-63-55. Report required of certain injuries.
Section 59-63-60. School guards required to be safely attired.
Section 59-63-65. Class size reduction; funding; facilities.
Section 59-63-70. High school student participation in independent organized sports teams.
Section 59-63-75. Concussion protocol for student athletes.
Section 59-63-80. Individual health care plans for students with special health care needs.
Section 59-63-90. Notice of available health-related services and rights.
Section 59-63-110. Citation of article.
Section 59-63-120. Definitions.
Section 59-63-130. Prohibited conduct; reports by witnesses.
Section 59-63-217. Barring enrollment of student; grounds; notice and hearing; duration of bar.
Section 59-63-220. Suspension of pupils by administrator.
Section 59-63-230. Notices of suspensions; conferences with parents or guardian.
Section 59-63-235. Expulsion of student determined to have brought firearm to school.
Section 59-63-240. Expulsion for remainder of year; hearings.
Section 59-63-250. Transfer of pupils.
Section 59-63-260. Corporal punishment.
Section 59-63-270. Regulation or prohibition of clubs or like activities.
Section 59-63-275. Student hazing prohibited; definitions.
Section 59-63-280. "Paging device" defined; adoption of policies addressing student possession.
Section 59-63-310. Short title.
Section 59-63-320. Reporting form.
Section 59-63-330. Quarterly and annual reports.
Section 59-63-333. School crime requirements to conform to federal "No Child Left Behind Act".
Section 59-63-335. Failure of school administrator to report criminal conduct; liability.
Section 59-63-340. Promulgation of regulations.
Section 59-63-350. Local law enforcement.
Section 59-63-360. Attorney General; representation of school districts.
Section 59-63-380. School official reporting school-related crimes; immunity.
Section 59-63-390. Inclusion of school crime report act summary in student handbooks.
Section 59-63-410. Enrollment of pupils.
Section 59-63-420. Effect of transfer on enrollment lists.
Section 59-63-430. Board shall furnish copies of relevant statutes to teachers.
Section 59-63-440. Violations of Sections 59-63-410 to 59-63-430.
Section 59-63-450. No may shall be counted in enrollment more than once.
Section 59-63-460. Annual reports.
Section 59-63-470. Transfer of pupils whose enrollment threatens to disturb peace.
Section 59-63-480. Attendance at schools in adjacent county.
Section 59-63-490. Transfer to adjoining school district.
Section 59-63-500. Transfer without consent of school district of residence.
Section 59-63-510. County board of education authorized to order transfer.
Section 59-63-520. Consent required for transfer.
Section 59-63-530. Credit on tuition for taxes paid.
Section 59-63-550. School attendance; boundary clarification.
Section 59-63-710. School lunch division in State Department of Education.
Section 59-63-720. County school lunch supervisors.
Section 59-63-730. Employment and discharge of county school lunch supervisors.
Section 59-63-740. Duties of county school lunch supervisors.
Section 59-63-750. Compensation of school lunch supervisors; office space and equipment.
Section 59-63-760. State's school lunch policy.
Section 59-63-765. School breakfast program.
Section 59-63-780. Inability to pay for school lunches; availability of federal funds.
Section 59-63-785. School meal debt collections; exceptions.
Section 59-63-790. School districts to implement breakfast program in each school.
Section 59-63-800. Waiver of school breakfast requirement.
Section 59-63-910. Safety and security drills; guidelines.
Section 59-63-920. School compliance and documentation.
Section 59-63-1110. Consent to search person or his effects.
Section 59-63-1120. Searches by school administrators or officials with or without probable cause.
Section 59-63-1130. Searches by principals or their designees.
Section 59-63-1140. Strip searches prohibited.
Section 59-63-1150. Compliance with case law; training of school administrators.
Section 59-63-1300. Legislative intent.
Section 59-63-1310. Individual or cooperative programs; funding; sites.
Section 59-63-1320. Referral or placement of students in alternative school programs.
Section 59-63-1330. Discretion of school board.
Section 59-63-1340. Permissible divergence from traditional programs and schools.
Section 59-63-1350. Eligibility for funding.
Section 59-63-1360. Transportation.
Section 59-63-1370. Teachers at alternative school programs; staff development.
Section 59-63-1380. Funding for alternative school programs.