Ponte Vedra, Fla. – Today Governor Rick Scott joined members of the Ponte Vedra community to sign the HB-291 Youth Athletes bill into law. The bill requires coaches and others to immediately remove players from a game or practice following a head injury and prevents the student athlete from returning to competition until the player has been cleared by a doctor.
“I am honored to sign this bill into law”, said Governor Scott, “It is important to remember that as much excitement as we get from our children’s sporting events, safety always comes first.”
This bill, sponsored by State Representative Ronald Renuart (R-Ponte Vedra) and Senator Anitere Flores, passed unanimously through the House and Senate last spring. “I was proud to work with Gov. Scott and the Legislature to get this important bill passed. What we've learned is that the human brain doesn't reach its full development until someone is in their late 20's and a repeat concussion, two concussions close to each other, can have detrimental effects - and that student-athlete may never reach their full potential as far as their education. It could even lead to death on the field, which we've seen in a number of cases,” said Renuart.
In addition to removing athletes from play, this law also takes preventative measures and requires an informed consent about the risk associated with concussions prior to a student joining an athletic team.
Governor Scott was joined by Dr. Renuart, Craig Speziale, Principal of Ponte Vedra High School, St. Johns County Superintendant Joseph G. Joyner, Chairwoman of the St. Johns County School Board, as well as coaches, athletes and sponsors of the Ponte Vedra High School athletic teams.
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