ALBANY — Starting next year, a new law in New York will bench public and private high school athletes who suffer or are believed to have suffered a concussion.

The legislation recently signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo directs state health and education officials to draft regulations for how schools handle mild traumatic brain injuries, starting in July. It requires immediate benching for suspected concussions in a school-related activity, including interscholastic and intramural sports and gym classes.

Students can play again only after they are symptom-free for 24 hours and cleared in writing by a doctor.