THE BILL ITSELF
HB 563
Repetitive Head Impact Prevention
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to repetitive head impact prevention;
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providing a short title; creating s. 381.996, F.S.;
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providing legislative findings; providing definitions;
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requiring parents and legal guardians registering
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children in high-risk sports to receive specified
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educational materials; providing requirements for such
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materials; requiring certain athletic directors,
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coaches, referees, and trainers to complete specified
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training; requiring the State Surgeon General, in
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collaboration with certain persons and entities, to
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develop specified continuing education courses for
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certain persons; establishing the Florida Brain Health
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in Sports Panel within the Department of Health;
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providing requirements for the panel; authorizing the
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department to use certain funds for certain purposes;
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providing rulemaking authority to the department;
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creating s. 683.339, F.S.; designating September 24 of
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each year as "Parkman-Lewis Day"; providing an
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effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Mac Parkman and
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Ray Lewis III Act."
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Section 2. Section 381.996, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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381.996 Repetitive head impact prevention.—
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(1) The Legislature finds that:
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(a) Repetitive head impacts are inherent in high-risk
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sports and are the root cause of chronic traumatic
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encephalopathy.
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(b) Youth under 18 years of age are especially vulnerable
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due to ongoing brain development.
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(c) Families, coaches, and even medical professionals
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often lack information and training on repetitive head impacts
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and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
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(d) Education, awareness, and informed consent are
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necessary to protect children, reduce health and social costs,
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and honor the memories of Mac Parkman and Ray Lewis III.
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(2) As used in this section, the term:
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(a) "Brain-safe sports" means sports that minimize the
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risk of head injuries, including, but not limited to,
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concussions and long-term brain damage such as chronic traumatic
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encephalopathy. The term includes basketball, baseball,
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volleyball, track, swimming, and tennis.
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(b) "Department" means the Department of Health.
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(c) "High-risk sports" means a sport in which a player is
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routinely subject to repetitive head impacts and includes
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football, soccer, hockey, boxing, lacrosse, wrestling, rugby,
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cheerleading.
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(d) "Repetitive head impacts" means subconcussive or
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concussive impacts to the brain that accumulate over time
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regardless of immediate symptoms.
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(3) Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, a parent or
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legal guardian registering a child in a high-risk sport shall
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receive standardized educational materials on repetitive head
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impacts and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
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(a) The parent or legal guardian must sign and return an
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acknowledgment form before the child participates in a high-risk
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sport.
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(b) The department, in consultation with the Department of
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Education and the Florida High School Athletic Association,
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shall develop and annually update the materials.
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(c) The materials must explain the science of repetitive
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head impacts and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, risks
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associated with early participation, signs and symptoms of brain
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injury and related mental illness, and safer alternatives of
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brain-safe sports.
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(4)(a) Athletic directors, coaches, referees, and trainers
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of high-risk sports at the youth and high school levels must
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annually complete mandatory repetitive head impacts and chronic
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traumatic encephalopathy awareness training approved by the
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department.
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(b) The State Surgeon General shall collaborate with
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nonprofit organizations, state universities, and medical experts
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to develop continuing education courses for physicians, nurses,
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physician assistants, psychiatrists, psychologists, coroners,
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suicide-prevention specialists, athletic trainers, coaches, and
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youth sports officials.
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(5)(a) There is established within the department the
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Florida Brain Health in Sports Panel, an advisory council as
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defined in s. 20.03(7), is created within the Department of
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Health. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the panel
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shall comply with the requirements of s. 20.052. The department,
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in consultation with the Department of Education and the Florida
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High School Athletic Association, shall appoint members of the
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panel, which shall be composed of scientists, medical
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professionals, educators, researchers, nonprofit leaders, and
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stakeholders.
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(b) By January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the panel
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shall provide a report to the Legislature on panel progress,
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findings, and policy recommendations. The report shall include
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recommendations on parental education content and training
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requirements and strategies to reduce repetitive head impact
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exposure.
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(6) The department may:
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(a) Use funds appropriated for the development and
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distribution of informed consent materials, the administration
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of training and awareness programs, and to support the panel.
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(b) Enter into public-private partnerships with
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nonprofits, foundations, and universities to reduce departmental
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costs and expand awareness.
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(7) The department may adopt rules necessary to implement
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this section.
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Section 3. Section 683.339, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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683.339 Repeated Head Injury Awareness Day.—September 24
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of each year, during National Concussion Awareness Month, is
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designated as "Parkman-Lewis Day."
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Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.