BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1231

By: Fletcher

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Recently enacted legislation was intended to increase the awareness of student athletes, parents, coaches, athletic trainers, and administrators regarding concussions with the goal of increasing the safety of student athletes by requiring the establishment of local concussion oversight teams by school districts and open-enrollment charter schools whose students participate in interscholastic athletic activities. The function of such a concussion oversight team is to establish a return-to-play protocol, based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence, for a student's return to interscholastic athletics practice or competition following the force or impact believed to have caused a concussion. Interested parties point out however, that while chiropractors are licensed healthcare professionals and many serve as team doctors with extensive training in sports medicine, neurology, orthopedics, and brain injuries, the law does not adequately provide for the inclusion of these health professionals on a concussion oversight team. H.B. 1231 seeks to remedy the omission of chiropractors as health professionals eligible for appointment to a concussion oversight team.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1231 amends the Education Code to include a chiropractor among the licensed health care professionals who may be included on a school district's or open-enrollment charter school's concussion oversight team.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.