Int. No. 1496
By Council Member Morano
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to public education and outreach on traumatic brain injuries and concussions
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 17 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 17-199.32 to read as follows:
§ 17-199.32 Traumatic brain injuries. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The term “chronic traumatic encephalopathy” means a progressive brain disease caused by repeated head impacts, including concussive and subconcussive trauma, characterized by abnormal tau protein accumulation and associated with cognitive, behavioral, or mood impairments. Such disease may be diagnosed definitively only post-mortem, but may manifest clinically through symptoms including, but not limited to, memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, aggression, depression, anxiety, personality changes, or motor dysfunction.
Concussion. The term “concussion” has the same meaning as set forth in section 2741 of the public health law.
Traumatic brain injury. The term “traumatic brain injury” has the same meaning as set forth in section 2741 of the public health law.
b. Public education campaign. The commissioner shall develop and implement a public education campaign on traumatic brain injuries. Such campaign shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:
1. Information on the symptoms and primary risks for traumatic brain injuries, including concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and which populations are at an elevated risk for such injuries, including military personnel, veterans, athletes, youth participating in organized sports, law enforcement officers, emergency responders, workers in the construction, manufacturing, logistics, and warehouse sectors, and any other populations the commissioner deems relevant;
2. Information on the importance of concussion testing and screening tools, including baseline screenings for populations at an elevated risk for traumatic brain injuries and concussions;
3. Information on how to access concussion testing and screenings within the city, and whether such testing and screenings are covered by insurance or other benefit programs;
4. Relevant information and guidance on traumatic brain injuries and concussions issued by the New York state department of health and the New York state education department, including guidelines for concussion management in schools and mandatory trainings for coaches and school personnel;
5. General guidance for parents and guardians of youth participating in organized sports on traumatic brain injury and concussion prevention, identification, and response; and
6. Publicly available resources for private youth sports and recreational leagues on obtaining certification or training in traumatic brain injury and concussion safety protocols.
c. Outreach. The commissioner shall prioritize outreach for the campaign required by subdivision b of this section to populations the commissioner determines are at an elevated risk for traumatic brain injuries and concussions, including the populations in paragraph 1 of subdivision b of this section. The commissioner shall make all educational materials developed for the public education campaign required by subdivision b of this section available on the department’s website and in the designated citywide languages as defined in section 23-1101. The commissioner shall utilize social media, city websites, digital kiosks, print media, and any other methods of communication to conduct outreach for such campaign. To the extent practicable, the commissioner shall distribute such materials to community boards, applicants for permits for youth sports or recreational activities issued by the department of parks and recreation, and make such materials available to the department of education for distribution to schools in the city.
d. Periodic review. The commissioner shall review, and as necessary, update the educational materials developed for the public education campaign required by subdivision b of this section at least once every 3 years to reflect current medical standards and best practices.
e. Training. The commissioner shall develop and make available to all agencies a traumatic brain injury and concussion awareness training program that may be offered online. The department shall provide a certificate of completion to each person or agency who completes such training. Training shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Recommended protocols for responding to suspected traumatic brain injuries in the work place;
2. Recommended guidance on traumatic brain injury prevention, recovery, and return-to-work best practices; and
3. Information on available resources for medical screening and support services.
f. Annual report. No later than 6 months after the effective date of this local law, and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council, and shall post on the department’s website, an annual report on traumatic brain injuries and concussions in occupations within agencies determined by the commissioner to have elevated risks for such injuries, including construction, law enforcement, sanitation, corrections, and emergency response. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, available data on incidence and prevalence rates of concussions and traumatic brain injuries in agency employees in such occupations, disaggregated by agency and occupation where feasible, as well as a year-over-year trend analysis of such injuries, and recommendations for prevention strategies, outreach improvements, and policy actions to reduce the incidence and long-term impacts of such injuries. Such report shall also include recommendations for resources or budgetary support necessary to implement prevention or mitigation strategies identified by the commissioner.
g. Privacy and medical disclaimer. All outreach, training, reporting, and other activities undertaken pursuant to this section shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local privacy laws. Materials and training developed pursuant to this section shall be educational in nature and shall not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor establish any standard of care.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law.
SOS
LS #20177
11/25/25 2pm