A2743 2R

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.

District 18 (Middlesex)

Assemblyman CRAIG J. COUGHLIN

District 19 (Middlesex)

Assemblyman THOMAS P. GIBLIN

District 34 (Essex and Passaic)

Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY

District 27 (Essex)

Assemblyman RUBEN J. RAMOS, JR.

District 33 (Hudson)

Assemblywoman CHARLOTTE VANDERVALK

District 39 (Bergen)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Voss, Assemblyman Wolfe, Assemblywomen Evans, Angelini, Rodriguez and Lampitt

SYNOPSIS

Requires development of a student-athlete awareness program concerning the prevention, risk, and treatment of sports-related brain injuries.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As amended by the General Assembly on June 21, 2010.

An Act concerning the health of student-athletes and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. A concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or body that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain, and can cause significant and sustained neuropsychological impairments including, but not limited to, problem solving, planning, memory, and behavioral problems;

b. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 300,000 concussions are sustained during sport-related activity in the United States, and more than 62,000 concussions are sustained each year in high-school contact sports;

c. Although concussions are one of the most commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational activities, little effort and resources have been committed to inform athletes, coaches, and parents and guardians about the causes and symptoms of concussions;

d. If a person sustains a second concussion while still having symptoms of a previous concussion, it can lead to the severe impairment and even the death of the victim, and is referred to as second-impact syndrome; and

e. In order to ensure the safety of student-athletes, it is imperative that athletes, coaches, and parents and guardians are educated about the nature and treatment of concussions and other sports-related brain injuries, and that all measures are taken to prevent a student-athlete from experiencing second-impact syndrome.

2. a. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, shall develop an awareness program concerning the prevention, risk, and treatment of sports-related concussions and other brain injuries among student-athletes. As a component of this awareness program, the commissioner shall develop a brain injury fact sheet that provides information about sports-related concussions and other brain injuries. The brain injury fact sheet shall include, but need not be limited to:

(1) information concerning the most effective means of preventing concussions and other brain injuries to ensure the safety of student-athletes;

(2) information identifying the signs and symptoms indicative of concussions and other brain injuries;

(3) information concerning the short and long-term dangers of concussions and other brain injuries; and

(4) information concerning the appropriate amount of time to delay the return to sports competition or practice of a student-athlete who has sustained a concussion or other brain injury.

The commissioner shall update the fact sheet as necessary and shall make copies available to nonpublic schools upon request.

b. Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, the Commissioner of Education shall annually distribute the brain injury fact sheet to all school districts in the State.

c. A school district shall distribute the fact sheet annually to all student-athletes, parents or guardians of student-athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers. The district shall require that the student-athlete and his parent or guardian both sign a copy of the fact sheet to acknowledge that they have read and understood the information provided in the fact sheet.

3. a. ²[Each school district] The Commissioner of Education² shall develop ²[and implement, by the 2011-2012 school year,]² a written policy concerning the prevention and treatment of sports-related concussions and other brain injuries among student-athletes. The policy shall include, but need not be limited to, the procedure to be followed when it is suspected that a student-athlete has sustained a concussion or other brain injury. ²[A school district] When developing the policy, the commissioner² shall review the policies established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association ¹[and],¹ the National Collegiate Athletic Association ¹, and recommendations made by ²the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey Concussion in Sports Steering Committee and² other organizations with expertise in the area of preventing or treating sports-related concussions and other brain injuries among student-athletes¹ ²[when developing the district policy]². ²Each school district shall implement the policy by the 2011-2012 school year.²

The policy shall be reviewed annually ²[by a physician trained in the evaluation and management of concussions, athletic trainer, and coach]², and ²[shall be]² updated as necessary ², by the commissioner² to ensure that it reflects the most current information available on the prevention, risk, and treatment of sports-related concussions and other brain injuries.

b. A student-athlete who sustains or is suspected of having sustained a concussion or other brain injury while engaged in a sports competition or practice shall be immediately removed from the sports competition or practice in accordance with the ²[school district’s written]² policy. A student-athlete who is removed from competition or practice shall not participate in further sports activity until he is evaluated by a physician ²or other licensed health care provider² trained in the evaluation and management of concussions, and receives written clearance from ²[that] a² physician ²trained in the evaluation and management of concussions² to return to competition or practice.

4. This act shall take effect immediately.