Bill Text: NJ S2875 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires student-athletes to submit evidence to school of screening for sickle cell trait.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-08-27 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S2875 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S2875-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires student-athletes to submit evidence to school of screening for sickle cell trait.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the health of student-athletes and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The board of education of a public school district and the governing board or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school shall require that prior to the participation of any student enrolled in grades six to 12 on a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad, the student shall submit to the school nurse and, if applicable, the school athletic trainer evidence that the student has been screened for sickle cell trait. The school nurse and school athletic trainer shall maintain the documentation submitted by a student throughout the student's enrollment in the school district or nonpublic school.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
Under this bill, the board of education of a public school district and the governing board or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school must require that prior to the participation of any student enrolled in grades six to 12 on a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad, the student must submit to the school nurse and, if applicable, the school athletic trainer evidence that the student has been screened for sickle cell trait. The school nurse and school athletic trainer are required to maintain the submitted documentation throughout the student's enrollment in the school district or nonpublic school.
Sickle cell trait is a genetic condition involving red blood cells. Unlike sickle cell disease, sickle cell trait individuals do not typically experience any symptoms and may not know that they have the trait. Sickle cell trait may contribute to death in athletes, as there is evidence that persons with sickle cell trait have increased susceptibility to exertional rhabdomyolysis, with the potential for renal failure and death. People with sickle cell trait should be counseled about appropriate hydration and acclimatization to reduce risks.
