New York S 9686: Updates school concussion management and response protocols

Bill Text

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S09686 Summary:

BILL NOS09686 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A10675-A

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SPONSORFAHY

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

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Amd §305, Ed L

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Relates to updating school concussion management and response protocols; requires that the injured student have returned to a full class schedule without academic accommodations prior to resuming athletic activity.

Go to top S09686 Actions:

BILL NOS09686 

&nbsp

04/01/2026REFERRED TO EDUCATION

Go to topS09686 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS09686 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS09686 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9686

 IN SENATE

 April 1, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. FAHY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Education

 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to updating school
 concussion management and response protocols

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "concussion
 2 management and awareness improvement act of 2026".
 3 § 2. Paragraph a of subdivision 42 of section 305 of the education
 4 law, as added by chapter 496 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as
 5 follows:
 6 a. The commissioner, in conjunction with the commissioner of health,
 7 shall promulgate and review as necessary rules and regulations relating
 8 to pupils who suffer mild traumatic brain injuries, also referred to as
 9 a "concussion," while receiving instruction or engaging in any school
 10 sponsored or school related activity. In developing such rules and
 11 regulations, the commissioner shall consider comments from stakeholders
 12 and other interested parties including but not limited to parents,
 13 teachers, students, school administrators, school athletic trainers,
 14 sport coaches, medical and health professionals, the public schools
 15 athletic league (PSAL), the New York state public high school athletic
 16 association (NYSPHSAA), and other athletic associations. Such regu-
 17 lations shall include, but not be limited to:
 18 (i) requiring a course of instruction relating to recognizing the
 19 symptoms of mild traumatic brain injuries and monitoring and seeking
 20 proper medical treatment for pupils who suffer mild traumatic brain
 21 injuries. Such course of instruction shall be required to be completed
 22 on a biennial basis by all school coaches, physical education teachers,
 23 nurses [and], athletic trainers, and medical directors employed by or
 24 under contract to a school or school district. The course of instruc-
 25 tion required by this subparagraph shall include, but not be limited to,
 26 the definition of a "concussion," signs and symptoms of mild traumatic
 27 brain injuries, how such injuries may occur, practices regarding
 28 prevention, and the guidelines for the return to school and to certain

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD07744-04-6

 S. 9686 2

 1 school activities after a pupil has suffered a mild traumatic brain
 2 injury regardless of whether such injury occurred outside of school.
 3 Such training may be completed by means of courses of instruction,
 4 including but not limited to, courses provided online and by teleconfer-
 5 ence approved by the department;
 6 (ii) providing that the department and the department of health shall
 7 post on their internet websites information relating to mild traumatic
 8 brain injuries, which shall include but not be limited to, the defi-
 9 nition of a "concussion," signs and symptoms of mild traumatic brain
 10 injuries, how such injuries may occur, and the guidelines for the return
 11 to school and to certain school activities after a pupil has suffered a
 12 mild traumatic brain injury regardless of whether such injury occurred
 13 outside of school. Schools shall be required to include such information
 14 in any permission form or parent or person in parental relation consent
 15 form or similar document that may be required for a pupil's partic-
 16 ipation in interscholastic sports and shall also include such informa-
 17 tion, or reference h