HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1669        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3503

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Angelo L. D'Emilia

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to baseline concussion testing for student athletes.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1669        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3503

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act relative to baseline concussion testing for student athletes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  The first paragraph of subsection (a) of section 222 of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentences:-  "The department shall create and maintain a mandatory baseline concussion test for all high school aged athletes enrolled in public school or any school, private or otherwise, that is subject to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) rules.  Any school subject to MIAA rules must use the department’s baseline concussion test to evaluate its high school aged student athletes.  Every time testing occurs, schools must share the results with the student athletes themselves and their parents or legal guardians if they are under 18 years old or only with the students athletes if they are 18 years old or older.  Each student’s test results must also be shared with the school’s athletic director and with the student’s coaches, athletic trainers, and any other school athletic health personnel prior to the start of each season.  The department shall promulgate regulations relative to the testing program.".             

SECTION 2.  Said section 222  of said chapter 111, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “student”, in line 56, the following words:-  "has undergone follow-up concussion testing in addition to previous baseline testing and the student".

SECTION 3. The first paragraph of subsection (c) of said section 222 of said chapter 111, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:-  "Any of the previously mentioned professionals who submit clearance shall also be trained in baseline concussion testing administration.".

SECTION 4.  The second paragraph of said subsection (c) of said section 222 of said chapter 111, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:-  "Any of the previously mentioned professionals who submit clearance shall also be trained in baseline concussion testing administration.".

SECTION 5.  The Executive Office of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Department of Public Health, a representative from the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, a representative from the Massachusetts Health and Hospitals Association and a medical doctor representative appointment by the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health shall research and propose funding opportunities to ensure the implementation of baseline concussion testing within 90 days of the passage of this legislation.