STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2445

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2557

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2557 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONCUSSIONS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Expand the concussion educational program to include youth athletic activities for participants aged four to eighteen and incorporate additional program requirements; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds to develop and implement the educational program and to administer concussion testing to high school athletes.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Chancellor of the University of Hawaii System, University of Hawaii College of Education, American Physical Therapy Association, Hawaii High School Athletic Association, Hawaii Athletic Trainers' Association, and Positive Coaching Alliance.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

     Your Committees find that concussions are a common athletic injury that can have severe repercussions on the health and future of student athletes.  Act 197, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, required the Department of Education and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association to develop a concussion educational program for high school students.  This program would also be beneficial for athletes in Hawaii's middle schools.  Additionally, your Committees note that the source of monies in the neurotrauma special fund is limited.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the grade and age range of the activities covered by the measure to grades six to twelve and ages eleven to eighteen;

     (2)  Changing the source of the appropriation for the concussion education program to general funds rather than the neurotrauma special fund; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2557, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2557, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair