BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3024
85R8760 MM-D	By: Price; Raymond (Birdwell)
	Education
	5/9/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 3024 allows doctors of chiropractic (DCs) to remove student-athletes from play if they are believed to have sustained concussions.

Section 38.156, Education Code, requires a student-athlete to be removed from competition if a coach, parent, physician, athletic trainer, advanced practice nurse, neuropsychologist, or physician assistant believes the student to have sustained a concussion. However, DCs lack this authority, despite being authorized to conduct the preparticipation physical examination required of students participating in University Interscholastic League athletic activities.

H.B. 3024 permits a DC to remove from competition a student-athlete who is suspected of having sustained a concussion�adding to the safety of Texas student-athletes.

H.B. 3024 amends current law relating to the removal of a public school student from an interscholastic athletic activity on the basis of a suspected concussion.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 38.156, Education Code, as follows:

Sec. 38.156. REMOVAL FROM PLAY IN PRACTICE OR COMPETITION FOLLOWING CONCUSSION. Requires a student to be removed from an interscholastic athletics practice or competition immediately if a person licensed under Chapter 201 (Chiropractors), Occupations Code, among certain other persons, believes the student might have sustained a concussion during the practice or competition.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.