SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 225

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 14, 2021

      The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 225 with committee amendments.

     The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed recommendations concerning a student-athlete’s return to sports and activities following a concussion or other head injury.  The CDC recommends that the student-athlete engage in a graduated, six-step “Return-to-Play-Progression” to ensure the student-athlete’s safety and well-being.

     The CDCs’ “Return-to-Play-Progression” recommended time for a student’s return to competition or practice is as follows: (1) back to regular activities (such as school); (2) light aerobic activity; (3) moderate activity; (4) heavy, non-contact activity; (5) practice and full contact; and (6) competition.

     As amended, this bill provides that a student-athlete or cheerleader who sustains a concussion or other head injury is ineligible to return to competition or practice until he returns to regular school activities and is no longer experiencing symptoms of the injury when conducting those activities.  Under the bill, the return of the student-athlete or cheerleader must be in accordance with the CDCs’ graduated, six-step “Return to Play Progression” recommendations.

     The bill also requires the Department of Education to revise its athletic head injury safety training program to include information on the CDCs’ graduated, six-step “Return to Play Progression” recommendations.

     The bill also requires a school district to revise its written policy concerning the prevention and treatment of sports-related concussions and other head injuries to include the CDCs’ graduated, six-step “Return to Play Progression” recommendations.

This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

     The committee amended the bill to update references in the bill to the CDCs’ graduated, six-step “Return to Play Progression” recommendations.  The committee also amended the bill to require school districts to revise their written policies concerning the prevention and treatment of sports-related concussions and other head injuries in the 2021-2022 school year rather than within 180 days of the effective date of the bill.