On August 23, 2010, the State Senate passed legislation which will require children under the age of 18 to wear helmets while skiing. The Bill was proposed by Senators Anthony Bucco and Joseph Pennacchio
As discussed in a previous post, U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell (NJ-8) proposed legislation that would better protect student athletes from the dangers of sports-related concussions. On September 16, 2010, the Concussion Treatment and Care Tools (ConTACT) Act was approved by Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The subcommittee’s vote followed a September 8, 2010 hearing on the legislation at the Prudential Center in Newark held by Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6).
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), in conjunction with several State politicians, have proposed legislation that would promote baseline neurological testing in an effort to reduce the number of sports related concussions in high school athletes. As seminars are being held to educate coaches, parents and students on the risks associated with concussions, the number of schools offering baseline testing has increased from a year ago.
Legislation sponsored by Assembly members Pat Diegnan, Craig Coughlin, Thomas Giblin and Mila Jasey aimed at creating an awareness program on the prevention, risk and treatment of sports-related brain injuries has passed the full Assembly. The Bill would require student athletes who sustain a concussion to be immediately removed from the activity. Additionally, the Bill states that the student would not be allowed to return to the field until they have been evaluated by a doctor who is trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and has given the student written permission to return to physical activity.
On Tuesday, July 27, 2010, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies will begin to mark up the FY 2011 spending bill for the Department of Health and Humans Services (HHS) and the Department of Education. This bill includes funding for the TBI Act programs administered by HHS (HRSA Federal TBI Program and CDC), as well as the TBI Model Systems of Care program administered by the Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
The General Assembly passed, by a vote of 78-0, A-2743 which requires development of a student-athlete awareness program concerning the prevention, risk, and treatment of sports-related brain injuries. The anticipated next step is that this bill will be received in the State Senate and referred to the Senate Education Committee for their consideration.
You can view the current version of the bill can be found by clicking here.
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced legislation in the United States Senate to create a grant program that would help ensure proper prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sports-related concussions in U.S. high schools and middle schools. The Concussion Treatment and Care Tools (ConTACT) Act establishes a five year grant program, authorized at $5 million for the first year, to be distributed to states to implement proven concussion management strategies.
Acting Governor Stephen Sweeney signed into law General Assembly Bill No. 4270 on January 16, 2010. This bill, authored by Assemblywoman Mila Jasey and Senator Shirley Turner, would create the New Jersey Special Education and Traumatic Brain Injury Task Force.
This year, 1.4 million people will sustain a traumatic brain injury. This number exceeds the number of breast cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries combined. Additionally, in recent years, traumatic brain injuries have emerged as the “signature injury” of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan with as many as 20% of soldiers sustaining brain injuries. Brain injuries remain a leading cause of death and disability in both children and adults.
Last week during a committee hearing in Houston on head injuries in college and youth football, Representative Steve Cohen, (D-TN), questioned leagues like the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12 for not putting tougher rules in place.
