YOUTH ATHLETE CONCUSSION                                                              S.B. 1122 (S-1):

                                                                                                      FLOOR SUMMARY

Senate Bill 1122 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Senator John Proos

Committee:  Health Policy

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to do the following:

-- Require the Department of Community Health (DCH) to develop, adopt, or approve, in an electronic format, educational materials and a training program related to concussion awareness, and make them available on the Department's website.

-- Require the DCH to promulgate rules identifying individuals required to participate in the training program.

-- Require an organizing entity that sponsored or operated an athletic activity to comply with the training program requirements and provide the educational materials to each participating youth athlete (i.e., an athlete younger than 18 years old) and his or her parent or guardian.

-- Require a youth athlete to be removed immediately from an athletic activity if he or she were suspected of having a concussion, and require written clearance from a qualified licensed health professional for the athlete's return.

-- Require an organizing entity to maintain a signed statement acknowledging a youth athlete's receipt of the educational materials, and any required written clearance, and make them available to the DCH upon request.

("Organizing entity" would mean any of the following:

-- A school (i.e., a public or nonpublic school or a public school academy).

-- A State or local parks and recreation department or commission or other entity.

-- A nonprofit or for-profit entity.

-- A public or private entity.)

The bill would not apply to an athletic activity if both of the following conditions were met:

-- The organizing entity was a member of a private nonprofit multisport statewide interscholastic athletic association or other sports organization.

-- The activity was governed by an association or organization rule that established concussion protocols that were substantially similar to or more stringent than those established under the bill, and that included an enforcement mechanism on its members.

Proposed MCL 333.9155                                                 Legislative Analyst:  Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would lead to relatively minor indeterminate costs for the Department of Community Health.  The Department would have to develop educational materials and an awareness training program and promulgate rules to implement and administer the legislation.

Local school districts that operate or sponsor athletic activities, that do not already have concussion awareness training, would incur increased costs because of the bill's requirement to comply with the training program requirements developed by the DCH.  The extent of the additional costs would depend upon the training program developed, and the extent to which local districts already offer concussion awareness training.

Date Completed:  5-21-12                                                 Fiscal Analyst:  Steve Angelotti

Kathryn Summers

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.