Source: https://www.legiscan.com/WV/text/SB605/2019
Timestamp: 2019-05-25 09:52:36
Document Index: 366193441

Matched Legal Cases: ['§18', '§18', '§18', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§29', '§55', '§29', '§29']

Bill Text: WV SB605 | 2019 | Regular Session | Enrolled | LegiScan
Bill Text: WV SB605 | 2019 | Regular Session | Enrolled
West Virginia Senate Bill 605 (Prior Session Legislation)
WV State Legislature page for SB605
Bill Title: Permitting Secondary Schools Athletic Commission discipline schools for not following protocol for concussions and head injuries
Status: (Passed) 2019-04-16 - Chapter 93, Acts, Regular Session, 2019 [SB605 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2019-SB605-Enrolled.html
By Senators Rucker, Boso, Maroney, Tarr, Baldwin, Cline, and Sypolt
AN ACT to amend and reenact §18-2-25a and §18-2-25b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to enhancing safety of athletes participating in interscholastic athletics at a school that is a member of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission; modifying qualifications of athletic trainers and physical therapists for certain purposes; requiring the Secondary School Activities Commission to submit certain head injury and concussion-related reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability; providing that schools that do not follow established protocol on concussions and head injuries in interscholastic athletics are subject to disciplinary actions by the Secondary School Activities Commission; and providing that schools that do not follow the requirements of their emergency action plans for athletics are subject to disciplinary actions by the Secondary School Activities Commission.
(c) The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission shall promulgate rules pursuant to §18-2-25 of this code that address concussions and head injuries in interscholastic athletes: Provided, That prior to state board approval and notwithstanding the exemption provided in §29A-1-3 of this code, the state board shall submit the rule to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability pursuant to §29A-3B-9 of this code.
(1) Guidelines and other pertinent information to inform and educate appropriate school administrators, coaches, interscholastic athletes, and their parents or guardians of the nature and risk of concussion and head injury including the risks of continuing to play or practice after a concussion or head injury;
(2) A concussion and head injury information sheet that shall be signed and returned by the interscholastic athlete and the athlete’s parent or guardian on an annual basis before the interscholastic athlete begins practice or competition;
(4) A requirement that an interscholastic athlete who is suspected by a licensed health care professional or by his or her head coach or licensed or registered athletic trainer of having sustained a concussion or head injury in a practice or game shall be removed from competition at that time;
(6) A list of the respective categories of licensed health care professionals including, but not limited to, licensed physical therapists and licensed or registered athletic trainers who, if properly trained in the evaluation and management of concussions, are authorized to provide written clearance for the interscholastic athlete to return to play; and
(7) A requirement that all member schools must submit a report to the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission within 30 days of an interscholastic athlete suffering or being suspected of suffering a concussion or head injury in a practice or game. The report must state whether an evaluation by a licensed health care professional verified that a concussion or head injury was actually suffered, whether the athlete received written clearance to return to play or practice and, if written clearance was given, the number of days between the incident and the actual return to play or practice. If written clearance to return to play is given after 30 days of the incident, a report update shall be submitted. The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission shall compile and submit the reports to the appropriate state and national organization or agencies to analyze and make determinations on whether the rule required by this section needs to be amended or if equipment worn by interscholastic athletes needs to be changed accordingly. The West Virginia School Activities Commission also shall submit the reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability.
(e) Any member school not complying with the requirements of this section, and rules promulgated thereof, shall be subject to the disciplinary actions ordered by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission: Provided, That the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission shall promulgate rules to establish guidelines for noncompliance and related disciplinary actions: Provided, however, That prior to state board approval and notwithstanding the exemption provided in §29A-1-3 of this code, the state board shall submit the rule to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability pursuant to §29A-3B-9 of this code.
(a) No later than August 1, 2017, the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission shall promulgate rules to establish guidelines for emergency action plans for athletics designed to respond to athletic injuries that occur on school property during school-sponsored athletic events. The rules shall address, at a minimum:
(b) All member schools shall submit an emergency action plan for athletics to the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission and their county boards of education by December 31, 2017: Provided, That the county boards shall keep the emergency plan of each school in the county on file and, unless otherwise provided for, provide a copy of each school’s emergency action plan for athletics to each local emergency response agency that has a role in the plan.
(3) Nothing in this subsection nullifies the immunity from civil liability as granted pursuant to §55-7-15 of this code or federal law except to the extent to which the actions are covered within the applicable limits of the professional liability insurance provided by the State Board of Risk and Insurance Management pursuant to this section and in effect at the time.
(d) Any member school not complying with the requirements of this section, and rules promulgated thereof, shall be subject to the disciplinary actions ordered by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission: Provided, That the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission shall promulgate rules to establish guidelines for noncompliance and related disciplinary actions: Provided, however, That prior to state board approval and notwithstanding the exemption provided in §29A-1-3 of this code, the state board shall submit the rule to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability pursuant to §29A-3B-9 of this code.