Missouri House of Representatives
Republican Representative Paul Fitzwater of District 144 filed HB646 yesterday which is a collaborative effort amongst concerned health care providers and the Brain Injury Association of Missouri.
I am proud to serve on the board of directors of BIA of MO, and helped edit and prepare this bill for filing.
The bottom line is that we need greater awareness and recognition of concussions in youth sport activities so that our children do not sustain repeated head injuries causing lifetime disabilities.
This bill creates requirements to be followed to achieve this goal without encumbering the sporting activities themselves.
The first priority should always be the health of our children.
If you feel the same way, please call him or write a short letter or email in support and send them to Rep. Fitzwater as soon as possible as the bill will be set for a public hearing very soon. To contact him please click on the picture to the right of this paragraph.
Copy of the Bill Below
FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 646
99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE FITZWATER (144).
1209H.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 192, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the youth sports
brain injury prevention act.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 192, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 192.748, to read as follows:
192.748. 1. The provisions of this section and section 192.749 shall be known and
2 may be cited as the “Youth Sports Brain Injury Prevention Act”. The department of
3 health and senior services shall, in cooperation with health care providers and a statewide
4 nonprofit organization to be named by the department specializing in education, support
5 services, and advocacy, make available to each municipality, business, or nonprofit
6 organization that organizes a youth athletic activity for which an activity fee is charged the
7 information developed under subsection 1 of section 167.765. This information shall
8 include guidelines for concussion management, pertinent information for individuals to
9 recognize a possible concussion, and forms to educate coaches, youth athletes, and parents
10 or guardians of youth athletes of the nature and risk of concussion and brain injury
11 including continuing to play after concussion or brain injury. The primary focus of which
12 is for the safety and protection of youth athletes.
13 2. On a yearly basis, each municipality, business, or nonprofit organization that
14 organizes a youth athletic activity for which an activity fee is charged shall distribute a
15 concussion and brain injury information form to each youth athlete participating in the
16 athletic program. The information form shall be signed by the youth athlete’s parent or
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended
to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
17 guardian and submitted to the athletic activity governing body prior to the youth athlete’s
18 participation in any athletic practice or competition.
19 3. All participating coaches and game officials of youth contact or limited contact
20 sports as defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics shall complete initial online or
21 in-person training and shall obtain updated online or in-person training at least once every
22 thirty-six months thereafter. The governing body or league administrator shall maintain
23 paper or electronic files of documentation of online or in-person training completed by
24 each of their participating coaches and game officials of youth contact or limited contact
25 sports.
26 4. A youth athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or brain injury in a
27 practice or game shall be removed from competition at such time and for no less than
28 twenty-four hours.
29 5. A youth athlete who has been removed from play shall not return to competition
30 until the athlete is evaluated by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation
31 and management of concussion as defined in the guidelines developed under subsection 1
32 of section 167.765 and receives written clearance to return to practice or competition from
33 that health care provider.
34 6. The department may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section
35 and section 192.749. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section
36 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective
37 only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if
38 applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable, and if any of
39 the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay
40 the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held
41 unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted
42 after August 28, 2017, shall be invalid and void.