Keeping Our Heads Up: Evolving State Law and the Future of Policymaking in Youth Sports TBI

Background/Purpose. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in youth sports have emerged as both a national public health problem and a state policymaking focus. The potential impact on child and adolescent health is significant and nationwide. The National Federation of State High School Associations reported that participation in high school sports exceeded 7.7 million in 2012-2013, increasing for the 24^th consecutive year. For young people aged 15 to 24 years, sports are the leading cause of TBI, second only to motor vehicle accidents. Since 2009, all 50 states and D.C. passed “return-to-play” (RTP) laws aimed at secondary prevention. Now that many have been in effect for a few years, legislatures are revisiting and revising them in response to evolving knowledge and emerging best practices. Methods. Relevant state laws were identified and characterized using established methods for legislative and legal research and analysis. Results/Outcomes. To date, 22 states have made substantive changes to their RTP laws since initial passage. Amendments have centered on expanding coverage, tightening existing requirements, and introducing attempts at primary prevention. Conclusions. Future youth sports TBI policymaking is likely to continue along this trajectory, with particular emphasis on primary prevention. Analyzing legislative changes provides important information about how successfully the law is being implemented in the state and clues about the future of sports-related TBI policymaking. This session will explore the current legislative landscape related to youth sports TBI, amendments to state laws since initial passage, and the recent litigation against the Illinois High School Association and its implications.