3. a. Each school district shall develop a written policy concerning the prevention and treatment of sports-related concussions and other head injuries among student-athletes and cheerleaders. The policy shall include, but need not be limited to, the procedure to be followed when it is suspected that a student-athlete or cheerleader has sustained a concussion or other head injury. When developing the district policy, a school district shall review the model policy established by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the policies established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and the recommendations made by the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Concussion in Sports Steering Committee, the Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey, and other organizations with expertise in the area of preventing or treating sports-related concussions and other head injuries among student-athletes and cheerleaders. Each school district shall implement the policy by the 2011-2012 school year.

The policy shall be reviewed annually, and updated as necessary, by the district to ensure that it reflects the most current information available on the prevention, risk, and treatment of sports-related concussions and other head injuries.

b. To assist school districts in developing policies concerning the prevention and treatment of sports-related concussions and other head injuries among student-athletes and cheerleaders, the Commissioner of Education shall develop a model policy applicable to grades kindergarten through 12. This model policy shall be issued no later than March 31, 2011.

L.2010, c.94, s.3; amended 2011, c.168, s.2.