HSB 202 (LSB 2572YC (2) 86)

HOUSE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON JORGENSEN)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to reporting of potential concussions or brain injuries in certain extracurricular interscholastic athletic contests.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 280.13C, Code 2015, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  3A.  a.  The home team in an extracurricular interscholastic contest in which high school athletic teams participate in a collision sport shall ensure that an athletic trainer licensed under chapter 152D is present and available to assess athletic injuries at such contest.
   b.  The home team in an extracurricular interscholastic contest in which high school athletic teams participate in a contact sport is strongly encouraged to ensure that an athletic trainer licensed under chapter 152D is present and available to assess athletic injuries at such contest.
   c.  If an athlete who is a member of a visiting team in an extracurricular interscholastic contest at which an athletic trainer licensed under chapter 152D is present and available to assess athletic injuries as provided in this section shows signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion or brain injury, the athletic trainer shall notify the visiting team’s athletic director within forty-eight hours after the contest occurs.
    Sec. 2.  Section 280.13C, subsection 4, Code 2015, is amended by adding the following new paragraphs:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  0a.  “Collision sport” means football, soccer, wrestling, hockey, or lacrosse.
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  00a.  “Contact sport” means a sport that is not a collision sport and that is defined as a contact sport by the American academy of pediatrics.
    Sec. 3.  IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT.  Section 25B.2, subsection 3, shall not apply to this Act.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the home team in an extracurricular interscholastic contest in which high school athletic teams participate in a collision sport to ensure that an athletic trainer licensed under Code chapter 152D is present and available to assess athletic injuries at such contest. The bill strongly encourages the home team in an extracurricular interscholastic contest in which high school athletic teams participate in a contact sport to ensure that an athletic trainer licensed under Code chapter 152D is present and available to assess athletic injuries at such contest.
   The bill requires an athletic trainer who is present and available to assess athletic injuries at an extracurricular interscholastic contest as provided in the bill to notify the visiting team’s athletic director within 48 hours after the contest occurs if an athlete who is a member of the visiting team shows signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion or brain injury.
   The bill defines “collision sport” as football, soccer, wrestling, hockey, or lacrosse. The bill defines “contact sport” as a sport that is not a collision sport and that is defined as a contact sport by the American academy of pediatrics.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill makes inapplicable Code section 25B.2, subsection 3, which would relieve a political subdivision from complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, political subdivisions are required to comply with any state mandate included in the bill.