BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 960

By: Howard

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns that school nurses, while often equipped to detect signs of a concussion suffered by a student engaged in athletic activities, are unable to have a potentially concussed student removed from participation in the activities. H.B. 960 seeks to address these concerns by providing for a school nurse to remove a concussed or potentially concussed student from certain athletic activities on the basis of a school nurse's belief that the student may be concussed.

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. 960 amends the Education Code to require a public school student to be removed from an interscholastic athletics practice or competition immediately if a school nurse believes the student might have sustained a concussion during the practice or competition.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.