BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 25
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 25 (Hayashi)
As Amended August 30, 2011
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |77-0 |(June 1, 2011) |SENATE: |38-0 |(August 31, |
| | | | | |2011) |
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Original Committee Reference: ED.
SUMMARY : Requires a school district that elects to offer
athletics, to implement a concussion and head injury
identification process; and, requires a concussion and head
injury information sheet to be signed and returned by an athlete
and an athlete's parent or guardian prior to the start of the
athlete's season of practice or competition.
The Senate amendments delete the required compliance with the
concussion and head injury identification process from all
organizations the district authorizes to use school facilities
for recreational purposes under the Civic Center Act (CCA).
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill required school districts,
in addition to all organizations that use school facilities for
recreational purposes under the Civic Center Act (CCA), to
comply with a concussion and head injury identification process.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee
potentially significant non-reimbursable workload to comply with
the head injury requirement; potentially significant ongoing
costs for Medi-Cal/Healthy Families; and, likely minor
non-reimbursable workload for third party activities.
COMMENTS : Concussions have serious immediate and long-term
effects. This bill requires that an after school student
athlete and their parent or guardian sign and return a
concussion and head injury information sheet on a yearly basis
prior to the start of the athletic season. This bill also
requires that after school student athletes suspected of having
a concussion are evaluated by a medical professional before
returning to practice, play, or competition.
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Policy: Current CIF
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policy ensures student-athletes do not return to practice or
competition until evaluated by a healthcare professional;
however, this only covers about one million students between
14-18 years old. The bill widens this policy to include the
three million students between 6-14 years old playing youth
sports.
Coaches training: The bill creates the preventive measure of
requiring coaches and supervisors to be aware of athletes who
they suspect of having sustained a concussion or head injury and
to remove them from practice or games to undergo evaluation by a
doctor. The bill however, does not require coaches to receive
training in identifying signs of concussion or head injury.
Previous legislation such as AB 1646 (Hayashi) of 2010 included
mandated training for coaches in concussion and head injury.
CIF's coaches training program under the High School Coaching
Education and Training Program does not currently include
instruction on concussions. CIF currently offers a free online
concussion training course for coaches where they receive an
immediate printed certification upon completion. Of the 67,929
coaches in California, 1,714 have taken the online course. The
Assembly should consider whether coaches will know the signs of
a concussion if they do not receive training on concussion
symptoms.
Other state laws: According to information provided by the
author, this bill is modeled after recently enacted legislation
in Washington State which requires all athletes under the age of
18 who are suspected of having a concussion to get written
consent from a licensed medical provider trained in evaluating a
concussion before returning to play. The Washington State law
also requires organizations to show proof of insurance before
being allowed to use school district facilities. The Assembly
should consider whether requiring proof of insurance is
necessary.
Analysis Prepared by : Tania Herrera and Chelsea Kelley / ED.
/ (916) 319-2087
FN: 0002368
AB 25
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