Pennsylvania HB 2042: An Act amending the act of November 9, 2011 (P.L.441, No.101), known as the Safety in Youth Sports Act, further providing for definitions and for the prevention of concussions and traumatic brain injuries.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2614, 2854 PRINTER'S NO. 3205
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2042
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BRIGGS, SANCHEZ, WAXMAN, FREEMAN, HILL-EVANS,
HOWARD, OTTEN, D. WILLIAMS, GUZMAN, PROBST, WARREN,
SHUSTERMAN, MAYES, CIRESI, DOUGHERTY, GREEN, BRENNAN AND
TIBURCIO, NOVEMBER 17, 2025
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
APRIL 15, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of November 9, 2011 (P.L.411, No.101), entitled
"An act establishing standards for managing concussions and
traumatic brain injuries to student athletes; assigning
duties to the Department of Health and the Department of
Education; and imposing penalties," further providing for
definitions and for the prevention of concussions and
traumatic brain injuries.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definition of "athletic activity" in section
2 of the act of November 9, 2011 (P.L.411, No.101), known as the
Safety in Youth Sports Act, is amended and the section is
amended by adding definitions to read:
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Athletic activity." All of the following:
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(1) Interscholastic athletics.
(2) An athletic contest or competition, other than
interscholastic athletics, that is sponsored by or associated
with a school entity, including cheerleading, club-sponsored
sports activities and sports activities sponsored by school-
affiliated organizations.
(3) Noncompetitive cheerleading that is sponsored by or
associated with a school entity.
(3.1) An official recreational athletic event.
(4) Practices, interschool practices and scrimmages for
all of the activities listed under paragraphs (1), (2) [and],
(3) and (3.1).
* * *
"Official recreational athletic event." A recreational
athletic contest or competition that meets all of the following:
(1) Involves pre-adult participants.
(2) Is sponsored by or associated with a sponsoring
organization.
(3) Requires pre-adult participant registration,
maintains written rules of play and conducts regular season
or tournament style competition.
(4) Is not an athletic activity associated with a school
entity or sponsored by interscholastic activities.
(5) Is not an incidental athletic competition or
contest.
"Pre-adult participant." An individual , other than a
student, under 18 years of age that participates in an athletic
activity.
"Return-to-learn." A program developed by the Department of
Health , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, to
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build a bridge connecting the medical, rehabilitation, education
sectors and families following a student's or pre-adult
participant's brain injury. The term includes the BrainSTEPS
program or a successor program.
* * *
"Sponsoring organization." A person or organization that is
involved in sponsoring, organizing, scheduling or conducting
games, exhibitions, events or contests for an official
recreational athletic event.
Section 2. Section 3(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g) of the
act is amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection
to read: ARE AMENDED AND THE SECTION IS AMENDED BY ADDING
SUBSECTIONS TO READ:
Section 3. Concussions and traumatic brain injuries.
(a) Educational materials.--The Department of Health and the
Department of Education shall develop and post on their Internet
websites guidelines and other relevant materials to inform and
educate students and pre-adult participants participating in or
desiring to participate in an athletic activity, their parents
and their coaches about the nature and risk of concussion and
traumatic brain injury, including the risks associated with
continuing to play or practice after a concussion or traumatic
brain injury. In developing the guidelines and materials, the
departments shall utilize existing materials developed or
approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR OTHER NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BRAIN INJURY
ORGANIZATIONS. [A student participating in or desiring] A
student or pre-adult participant who participates or desires to
participate in an athletic activity and the student's or pre-
adult participant's parent or guardian shall each [school] year,
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prior to participation [by the student] in an athletic activity,
sign and return to the student's school entity or pre-adult
participant's sponsoring organization an acknowledgment of
receipt and review of a concussion and traumatic brain injury
information sheet developed under this subsection.
(b) Informational meeting.--A school entity or sponsoring
organization SUBJECT