HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3268        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2265

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Angelo L. D'Emilia

_________________

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.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Angelo L. D'Emilia

8th Plymouth

2/18/2021

Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.

12th Hampden

2/19/2021

Tricia Farley-Bouvier

3rd Berkshire

2/22/2021

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

2/22/2021

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

2/23/2021

Kathleen R. LaNatra

12th Plymouth

2/24/2021

Sheila C. Harrington

1st Middlesex

2/24/2021

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

2/25/2021

Alyson M. Sullivan

7th Plymouth

2/25/2021

Mathew J. Muratore

1st Plymouth

2/26/2021

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

20th Middlesex

2/26/2021

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

3/15/2021

Tommy Vitolo

15th Norfolk

12/6/2021


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3268        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2265

By Mr. D'Emilia of Bridgewater, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2265) of Angelo L. D'Emilia and others relative to baseline concussion testing for student athletes.  Public Health.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3503 OF 2019-2020.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

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.