JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a bill into law requiring public and private schools to evaluate student athletes for concussions if they've been especially shaken up or taken a hard hit during practice or competition. A player with a concussion would be banned from play until fully recovered.
Bryant signed the bill Thursday, and said he spoke to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about it.
The bill was pushed by the NFL and the Mississippi State Medical Association and supported by groups that govern school activities. The National Sports Concussion Coalition says Mississippi is the last state without a youth-concussion law to set standards for medical evaluation and return to play.
Bryant says the law could help all student athletes, not just football players. The law takes effect July 1.
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