Legislature(2011 - 2012)BUTROVICH 205
03/30/2011 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
SCR7 | |
SB22 | |
SB74 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ | SCR 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | SB 22 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | SB 74 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 22-STUDENT ATHLETE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES 1:45:58 PM CHAIR DAVIS announced the next order of business would be SB 22, relating to student athlete traumatic brain injuries. ESTHER TEMPEL, staff to Senator Lesil McGuire, sponsor of SB 22, said the bill seeks to minimize the complications and more permanent conditions that can be caused when student athletes continue to practice or play after receiving a concussion. More than 60,000 high school student athletes sustain concussions each year. The risk can be reduced with a helmet but these injuries cannot always be prevented. SB 22 is modeled after legislation passed in Washington State. A middle school football player was returned to a game after receiving a concussion. When he returned to play he suffered a second injury from which he will never fully recover. SB 22 seeks to require school districts and Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) to develop and publish guidelines and information about the nature and risks. It will also require athletes suspected of sustaining a concussion be removed from play and cleared by a licensed health care provider. There is no way to completely prevent concussions but we can strive to prevent serious complications. 1:49:35 PM SENATOR EGAN moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) for SB 22, labeled 27-LS0250\B, as the working document. CHAIR DAVIS objected for discussion purposes. MS. TEMPEL said the CS was prepared after consultation with the Alaska Brain Injury Network and the ASAA. It replaces the words "traumatic brain injuries" with "concussions." A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury. The change occurs on page 1, line 6; page 2, line 13; and page 3, lines 18 and 21. Section 2 adds a new section, AS 14.30.142(b), which requires that schools provide students and their parents with written information on the nature and risks of concussions. Parents are also required to sign off that they have received this information. There is also a language change with reference to who can evaluate a student suspected of sustaining a concussion. This is because in rural Alaska a licensed health care provider may not always be present. A qualified person could be a health care provider or a person acting at the direction and under the supervision of a licensed physician. This would include a village health aide. Subsection 14.30.142(e) adds additional language saying, " . . . and who is not paid for conducting the evaluation." 1:53:50 PM GARY MATTHEWS, Executive Director, Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA), said that their responsibility is to provide guidance and regulation and promote interscholastic activities in the high schools in Alaska. This is an entity which will work with member school districts. They have worked closely with the Alaska Association of School Boards (AASB), the Alaska Association of School Administrators (AASA), and the office of Representative Doogan, who sponsored a similar bill in the House. About 12 states have adopted similar legislation. The intent is to protect students. It is also to educate and train parents, coaches, school nurses, and others in the management of concussions and return to play. They work with a national affiliate to reduce injuries in sports. Their sphere of influence is high school interscholastic activities. The rules should include proper safety equipment, training of coaches, etc. ASAA is pleased with the CS but they do have one small concern. On page 2, section (d), starting on line 27, the state of Alaska has no registry which lists health care providers who have received training in the management of concussions. The provider is the only one who knows if he or she is a qualified person. The last step should be to place a slight amendment to subsection (d), as follows: "A student who has been removed from participation in a practice or game for suspicion of concussion may not return to play until the student has been evaluated and cleared for participation by a qualified person who has received training and is currently certified in the evaluation and management of concussions." At the end of that sentence they would like to add, ", as verified in writing by the qualified person." 1:59:01 PM There is no way for the school to know if a person is qualified. So the person needs to self-certify they are qualified. That way, any liability falls onto the health care provider, not the school district. 2:00:03 PM CHAIR DAVIS said that everything was in the new CS, except "as verified in writing by the qualified person." She noted that language could be added today by the committee. 2:00:53 PM JILL HODGES, Executive Director, Alaska Brain Injury Network, said she was calling in support of SB 22. The network has testified in support of many bills and resolutions. SB 22 brings attention to concussions among student athletes. She said it was exciting to be testifying in support of a bill that would help to keep student athletes safe and prevent serious, traumatic brain injury. 2:03:52 PM There is no fiscal note, so this is an affordable way to increase awareness. SB 22 will help keep brains safe and increase awareness of traumatic brain injuries. It will help schools and coaches better understand how to reduce the number of injuries and the risk of injuries. The Brain Injury Network believes SB 22 will help student athletes to continue to succeed in sports and school. 2:06:17 PM PETER HOEFFNER, Board Member, Cordova School District, said he supports SB 22. It focuses on concussions and is good for the health and well being of students. 2:07:33 PM CHRISTOPHER DEAN, Alaska Athletic Trainers Association said SB 22 creates a right and a duty for all people involved in youth athletics to protect the child. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has defined concussions as being at epidemic level. As a trainer he sees this first hand. Post season reporting shows that close to 50 percent of athletes in contact sports receive a concussion during the season, yet only 15 percent of these are reported to the athletic trainer during the season. Concussions are severely underreported. Many schools do not have trained personnel on site, which makes it important to train and educate our coaches, administrators, and parents. 2:09:58 PM BRENDA SHELTON, President, Alaska Athletic Trainers Association (AATA), said the organization is committed to the support and implementation of this legislation. An athletic trainer is a health care professional who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of sport-related injuries. SB 22 is revenue neutral; free and reputable educational tools are available. An athlete who exhibits the signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion should be removed immediately from practice or competition and should not be returned to play until cleared by a trained health care professional. AATA stands in support of SB 22. 2:11:43 PM BRUCE JOHNSON, Executive Director, Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA), said they have worked collectively to bring this legislation to the committee. They feel strongly that the time is right to pass this bill. Education is available, particularly for those involved in contact sports. They have worked hard to get the protocols in place for evaluating possible concussions. 2:13:05 PM CHAIR DAVIS closed public testimony on SB 22. She noted there was one recommendation for a small change. SENATOR MEYER asked Ms. Lelake if she thought the sponsor would agree to the suggested change. MS. LELAKE said she thought he would. SENATOR DYSON said we can pass the bill out with the change, and the sponsor can undo it if he wants to. SENATOR EGAN asked where the new words would be inserted. MS. LELAKE answered on page 2, line 30. 2:15:41 PM CHAIR DAVIS said it was just a matter of adding "as verified by." SENATOR MEYER said it was a good bill and would work in urban areas, but what about in rural areas if no health care provider was available. MS. LELAKE responded she believes the CS addresses the problem, because village health aids would qualify. SENATOR MEYER said that should work. CHAIR DAVIS asked for a motion to move the bill. SENATOR EGAN moved to report CS for SB 22, version B as amended, and adding on line 30, after concussions, "as verified in writing by the qualified person," from committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. Without objection, CSSB 22(HSS) moved from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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SCR 7 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
|
SCR 7 Bill Text.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
|
SCR7 10 Things You Should Know About FAS.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
|
SCR7 FASD Economic Cost pgs 34-37.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
|
SB 22_Version A.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 22 |
SB 22 Sectional Analysis Version A.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 22 |
SB22 CS Version B.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 22 |
SB 22 Summary of Changes Version B.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 22 |
SB 22 Youth Concussion Ed Pack.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 22 |
SB 22 State Legislatures Article.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 22 |
SB 22 NPR Story.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 22 |
SB 22 LetterOfSupport ABIN.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 22 |
SB 22 Brain Injury Association of WA.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 22 |
SB 22 Boston Univ Article.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 22 |
SB 22 AATA Letter of Support.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 22 |
SB 74 Bill.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 74 |
SB 74 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 74 |
AK HB 79- SB 74 Actuarial Cost Analysis 3 4 2011 FINAL.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
HB 79 SB 74 |
SB 74 Autism Plan Progress.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 74 |
SB74 Breaking Through.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 74 |
SB74 Ganz Article on Societal Costs.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 74 |
SB74 Stone Soup Group.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 74 |
SB74 Trust Letter.pdf |
SHSS 3/30/2011 1:30:00 PM |
SB 74 |