86R19254 JES-F

By: Howard H.B. No. 961

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 961:

By: Bell of Kaufman C.S.H.B. No. 961

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the membership and training course requirements of school district and open-enrollment charter school concussion oversight teams.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 38.154, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:

(b-1) If a school district or open-enrollment charter school employs a school nurse, the school nurse may be a member of the district or charter school concussion oversight team if requested by the school nurse.

SECTION 2. Sections 38.158(c), (e), and (g), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(c) The following persons must take a training course in accordance with Subsection (e) from an authorized training provider at least once every two years:

(1) a coach of an interscholastic athletic activity;

(2) a school nurse who serves as a member of a concussion oversight team;

(3) a licensed health care professional who serves as a member of a concussion oversight team and is an employee, representative, or agent of a school district or open-enrollment charter school; and

(4) [(3)] a licensed health care professional who serves on a volunteer basis as a member of a concussion oversight team for a school district or open-enrollment charter school.

(e) For purposes of Subsection (c):

(1) a coach must take a course described by Subsection (a);

(2) an athletic trainer must take:

(A) a course described by Subsection (b); or

(B) a course concerning the subject matter of concussions that has been approved for continuing education credit by the appropriate licensing authority for the profession; and

(3) a school nurse or licensed health care professional, other than an athletic trainer, must take:

(A) a course described by Subsection (a) or (b); or

(B) a course concerning the subject matter of concussions that has been approved for continuing education credit by the appropriate licensing authority for the profession.

(g) A school nurse or licensed health care professional who is not in compliance with the training requirements under this section may not serve on a concussion oversight team in any capacity.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019.