Bill > H3994

This bill establishes a special commission of nine members to study concussions occurring in varsity sports at public and private high schools. The commission will be chaired by the commissioner of public health or their designee and will include representatives from the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), and Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts. The Governor will appoint five additional members, including a physician specializing in sports concussions, a researcher on brain trauma consequences, a high school athletic director, and a representative of private school athletic programs, with consideration given to diversity in race, gender, and geography. The commission's duties include analyzing concussion data, reviewing sport rules and safety policies, and studying the cost and effectiveness of baseline concussion testing for athletes. It will then make recommendations on concussion reduction and prevention, school procedures for identifying and responding to concussions, whether baseline testing should be mandatory, and any necessary legislative changes. The commission is required to submit a preliminary report by December 1, 2016, and a final report with its findings and recommendations to the joint committee on public health by February 1, 2017.