Democratic lawmakers are proposing a bill to help protect student-athletes from the effects of brain concussions. The tagline for the legislation is: “When in doubt, sit it out.”
State Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney of New Haven and Sen. Thomas Gaffey of Meriden will talk about the bill at a news conference Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Joining them will be coaches, doctors, parents, and representatives from the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference.
If the bill passes, Connecticut would become the third state – along with Washington and Oregon – to adopt a “comprehensive law protecting student-athletes from the effects of concussions,” a spokesman for Senate Democrats said.
Details were not announced Monday, but sources said the bill would require student athletes who suffer a suspected concussion to wait at least a day to return to action. It also would say that coaches must receive training about concussions.