I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7274 
To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the 
establishment and implementation of concussion management guidelines 
with respect to student athletes, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 19, 2008 
Mr. PASCRELL (for himself, Mr. PLATTS, and Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to 
provide for the establishment and implementation of con-
cussion management guidelines with respect to student 
athletes, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Concussion Treatment 
and Care Tools Act of 2008’’ or the ‘‘ConTACT Act of 
2008’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Concussions are mild traumatic brain inju-
ries, the long-term effects of which are not well un-
derstood. 
(2) As many as 3.8 million concussions related 
to sports and recreation are estimated to occur in 
the United States each year. 
(3) There is an increased risk for subsequent 
brain injuries among persons who have had at least 
one previous brain injury. 
(4) A repeat concussion, one that occurs before 
the brain recovers from a previous concussion, can 
slow recovery or increase the likelihood of having 
long-term problems. 
(5) In rare cases, repeat concussions can result 
in second impact syndrome, which can be marked by 
brain swelling, permanent brain damage, and death. 
(6) Recurrent brain injuries and second impact 
syndrome are highly preventable. 
(7) Many national organizations, including the 
American Academy of Neurology, the National Foot-
ball League, the American Academy of Family Phy-
sicians, and the Brain Injury Association of Amer-
ica, have adopted concussion management guide-
lines, but multiple directives have created confusion 
and sparked debate. 
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SEC. 3. CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES WITH RE-
SPECT TO STUDENT ATHLETES. 
Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by inserting after sec-
tion 317T the following: 
‘‘SEC. 317U. CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES WITH 
RESPECT TO STUDENT ATHLETES. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS TO STATES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, may make grants to States 
for the purposes of— 
‘‘(A) establishing, disseminating, and en-
suring the implementation by schools of concus-
sion management guidelines with respect to the 
prevention, identification, treatment, and man-
agement of sports-related concussions in stu-
dent athletes, including standards for student 
athletes to return to play after a concussion; 
and 
‘‘(B) funding implementation by schools of 
computerized pre-season baseline and post-in-
jury neuropsychological testing for student ath-
letes. 
‘‘(2) GRANT APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to 
receive a grant under this section, a State shall sub-
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mit an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary 
shall require. An application for the first grant to a 
State under this section shall include at least an 
agreement to establish concussion management 
guidelines with respect to the student athletes in 
such State. 
‘‘(3) UTILIZATION OF LOCAL CHAPTERS OF NA-
TIONAL BRAIN INJURY ORGANIZATIONS.—In estab-
lishing, disseminating, and ensuring the implementa-
tion by schools of concussion management guidelines 
pursuant to a grant under this section, States shall 
utilize, to the extent practicable, applicable expertise 
and services offered by local chapters of national 
brain injury organizations. 
‘‘(b) CONFERENCE ON CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT 
GUIDELINES.—Not later than 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting 
through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, shall convene a conference of medical, 
athletic, and educational stakeholders to establish model 
concussion management guidelines with respect to student 
athletes. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION
OF ACTIVITIES.—In carrying 
out activities under this section, the Secretary shall appro-
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priately coordinate with Federal departments and agencies 
that carry out activities related to concussions and trau-
matic brain injuries. 
‘‘(d) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to Congress a report describing the results of activities 
carried out under this section, including the number of 
States that have established concussion management 
guidelines and the number of schools that have imple-
mented computerized pre-season baseline and post-injury 
neuropsychological testing for student athletes. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘State’ means each of the 50 
States and the District of Columbia. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘student athlete’ means an indi-
vidual in any of the grades 6th through 12th who 
participates in a sport through their school. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may 
be necessary for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2013.’’. 
Æ 
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