Bill Text: NJ SCR128 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges school districts to establish concussion management teams.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-12-22 - Substituted by ACR165 [SCR128 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-SCR128-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
Senator JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Urges school districts to establish concussion management teams.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution urging school districts to establish concussion management teams.
Whereas, In 2022 the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that roughly 2.3 million children and adolescents had received a diagnosis of a concussion or brain injury in their lifetime; and
Whereas, Concussions are one of the most commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and other recreational activities; and
Whereas, Students would benefit from having access to support services to optimally function in the learning environment upon sustaining a concussion, including establishing a baseline to assess cognitive functioning that can be useful when managing concussions; and
Whereas, A concussion management team is a group of school-based professionals who work together to manage a student's care after a concussion. The team may include school physicians, school nurses, school psychologists, school social workers, athletic trainers, and school administrators; and
Whereas, A concussion management team is in the school building during the day and its members have insight into the needs of students recovering from concussions; and
Whereas, A concussion management team ensures that a student safely returns to classroom and sports-related activity after a brain injury and typically collaborates with the student's family and school staff to coordinate care and support throughout the recovery process; and
Whereas, While school districts are currently required to have a written policy on the prevention and treatment of concussions and other sports-related brain injuries, the benefits of a concussion management team include having a highly trained team of professionals readily available to answer the concerns of both educators and parents and knowing that each student with a concussion has the support they need to succeed in the learning environment; and
Whereas, There are a number of organizations that provide information on the establishment of concussion management teams, including the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey, which seeks to improve the quality of life for anyone impacted by a brain injury by providing support, advocacy, and information; and
Whereas, Organizations like the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey can be a resource to assist school districts in developing concussion management teams; and
Whereas, The health and safety of students must remain a priority of the State and its school districts, and the establishment of school concussion management teams would strive to advance the appropriate care of the students with concussions and other brain injuries; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):
1. The Legislature strongly urges school districts to establish concussion management teams.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Commissioner of Education and each school district in the State.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges school districts to establish concussion management teams.
In 2022 the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that roughly 2.3 million children and adolescents had received a diagnosis of a concussion or brain injury in their lifetime. Concussions are one of the most commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational activities. Students would benefit from having access to support services to optimally function in the learning environment upon sustaining a concussion.
A concussion management team is a group of school-based professionals who work together to manage a student's care after a concussion. The team may include school physicians, school nurses, school psychologists, school social workers, athletic trainers, and school administrators. A concussion management team is in the school building during the day and its members have insight into the needs of students recovering from concussions. Additionally, a concussion management team ensures that a student safely returns to classroom and sports-related activity after a brain injury and typically collaborates with the student's family and school staff to coordinate care and support throughout the recovery process.
While school districts are currently required to have a written policy on the prevention and treatment of concussions and other sports-related brain injuries, the benefits of a concussion management team include having a highly trained team of professionals readily available to answer the concerns of both educators and parents and knowing that each student with a concussion has the support they need to succeed in the learning environment.
There are a number of organizations that provide information on the establishment of concussion management teams, including the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey, which seeks to improve the quality of life for anyone impacted by a brain injury by providing support, advocacy, and information. Organizations like the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey can be a resource to assist school districts in developing concussion management teams.
The health and safety of students must remain a priority of the State and its school districts, and the establishment of school concussion management teams would strive to advance the appropriate care of the students with concussions and other brain injuries.
