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.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

2614 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

2854 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

WILLIAMS, GUZMAN, PROBST, WARREN, SHUSTERMAN, MAYES, CIRESI, DOUGHERTY AND GREEN, NOVEMBER 17, 2025 ASREFERRED REPORTEDTO FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOUSENOVEMBER OF18, REPRESENTATIVES,2025 AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 3, 2026 AN ACT Amending the act of November 9, 2011 (P.L.411, No.101), entitled "An act establishing standards for managing concussions and dutiestraumatic tobrain theinjuries Departmentto ofstudent Healthathletes; and the Department of Education;

assigning Education;

(3.1)(4) ANPractices, OFFICIALinterschool RECREATIONALpractices ATHLETICand EVENT.scrimmages for all of the activities listed under paragraphs (1), (2) and (3).

<--(5) (4)Organized Practices,leagues, interschoolincluding practicesprivate andleagues, scrimmagesthat forare allnot ofassociated thewith activitiesa listedschool underentity paragraphsor (1),sponsored (2)by [and],interscholastic <--activities. (3) AND (3.1).

<-- (5) Organized leagues, including private leagues, that <-- are not associated with a school entity or sponsored by interscholastic activities.

* * * "OFFICIAL"Pre-adult RECREATIONALparticipant." ATHLETICAn EVENT."individual Aunder RECREATIONAL18 <--years ATHLETICof CONTESTage ORthat COMPETITIONparticipates THATin MEETSan ALLathletic OFactivity. 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.

20250HB2042PN2854 - 2 - (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.

* * * "SPONSORINGSection ORGANIZATION."2. 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 2.3(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of the act is amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to read:

Section20250HB2042PN2614 3(a),- (b),2 (c),- (d)Section and,3. (e) AND (G) of <-- the act is amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to read:

Section 3.

(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.

[A 20250HB2042PN2854 - 3 - 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] ORpre- pre-adultadult participant's <-- parent or guardian shall each [school] year, 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 may hold an informational meeting prior to the start of each athletic season for STUDENTS OR pre-adult <-- participants and competitors of all ages [of competitors] regarding concussions and other head injuries, the importance of proper concussion management and how preseason baseline assessments can aid in the evaluation, management and recovery process.

20250HB2042PN2614 - 3 - (c) Removal from play.--A student or pre-adult participant who, as determined by a game official, coach from the student's or pre-adult participant's team, certified athletic trainer, licensed physician, licensed physical therapist or other official designated by the student's school entity or pre-adult participant's sponsoring organization, exhibits signs or symptoms of a concussion or traumatic brain injury while participating in an athletic activity shall be removed by the coach from participation at that time.

(d) Return to play.--The coach shall not return a student or 20250HB2042PN2854 - 4 - pre-adult participant to participation until the student or pre- adult participant is evaluated and cleared for return to participation in writing by an appropriate medical professional.

The governing body of a school entity OR A SPONSORING <-- ORGANIZATION may designate a specific person or persons, who must be appropriate medical professionals, to provide written clearance for return to participation.

(d.1) Information to be distributed by sponsoring <--organizations.--A organizations.--A.--A SCHOOL ENTITY OR sponsoring organization <-- must distribute return-to-learn information to all students and pre-adult participants before the student or pre-adult participant participates in an athletic activity offered by the SCHOOL ENTITY OR sponsoring organization.

<-- (e) Training course.--Once each school year, a coach shall complete the concussion management certification training course [offered] approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Federation of State High School 20250HB2042PN2614 - 4 - Associations or another provider approved by the Department of Health.

* * * [(G) OTHER YOUTH ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES.--THE SPONSORS OF YOUTH <-- ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED BY THIS ACT ARE ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE SET FORTH IN THIS ACT.] * * * Section 3.

20250HB2042PN285420250HB2042PN2614 - 5 -