The Georgia law (“Return to Play Act”) is located at Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia under miscellaneous provisions of the “Quality Basic Education Act” at Section 20-2-324.1.
The Georgia law requires local boards of education, non-public and charter schools to adopt and implement a concussion management and return to play policy, which must minimally provide that: (i) prior to commencement of an athletic season for youth athletic activity all youth athletes and parents will be provided an information sheet explaining the nature and risks of concussion and head injury; (ii) youth athletes exhibiting symptoms of a concussion shall be removed from the activity until evaluated by a health care provider; and (iii) youth athletes deemed by a licensed health care provider to have sustained concussions shall not be permitted to return to play until a health provider gives clearance for a full or graduated return to play. Each public recreation facility must provide a concussion information sheet to all youth athletes’ parents/guardians at the time of registration and are encouraged to develop and implement a concussion management and return to play policy. The Georgia Department of Public Health must endorse one or more concussion recognition education course(s) and make one available online. The law does not create liability for education boards, the governing body of a nonpublic school, the governing body of charter schools or public recreation facility, officers, employees, volunteers or other designated personnel for acts or omissions related to removal or non-removal of a youth athlete from play. Youth athlete is defined as a participant in a youth athletic activity age 7 and under age 19 years of age. “Youth athletic activity” means an organized athletic activity in which the majority of participants are youth athletes and are engaged in an organized athletic game, competition or practice or preparation against another team, club or entity, but does not include college or university activities, activities incidental to a nonathletic program or youth athletic activities offered by a church or synagogue. Entities not subject to this Code section are strongly encouraged to establish and implement a concussion management and return to play policy. Public recreation facility is a public facility that conducts organized youth activity requiring registration and a participation fee.
The Georgia Statute can be viewed online at:
http://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2014/title-20/chapter-2/article-6/part-15/section-20-2-324.1/
The following website offers additional information regarding Georgia concussion law:
http://dph.georgia.gov/return-play