Gregoire signs concussion-safety bill

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Gov. Chris Gregoire on Thursday signed a bill aimed at preventing school athletes with concussions from returning to play too soon.

Though the version Gregoire signed came from Rep. Jay Rodne, R-North Bend, the Senate version of the bill and much of the work done to pass the measure in that chamber came from Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima.

King had said before the legislative session began in January that if the proposal passed, he would feel better about it than anything else he could do in Olympia this year. He reiterated that sentiment after the session.

There was a lot of effort that went into getting that bill developed,” he said. “We have a fair and equitable bill that really addresses the problem.”

The new law, House Bill 1824, mandates that student-athletes suspected of sustaining head injuries be cleared by a licensed health care provider before returning to play. It also  will have school districts work with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association to develop policies to educate coaches about concussions.

Student athletes and their parents will be required to sign and return information sheets about head injuries at the start of sports seasons.
It is called the Zackery Lystedt Law in honor of a then-13-year-old middle school football player who was severely disabled by a head injury in 2006.