Includes concussions within the New York state traumatic brain injury program

1 Co-sponsor

• Kemp Hannon

BILL NUMBER:S7004A

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to including concussions within the New York state traumatic brain injury program

Purpose

Creates a concussion management advisory committee to develop recommendations for the traumatic brain injury services coordinating council related specifically to concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries.

Summary of provisions

Section 2741 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision b which defines the term "concussion."

Section 2742 of the public health law is amended to include specific considerations related to concussions within the powers and duties of the traumatic brain injury services coordinating council.

Section 2744 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4, providing for the establishment of a concussion management advisory committee within the traumatic brain injury services coordinating council to be tasked with developing recommendations for the council related to concussion management, academic scholarship, outreach programs, public awareness, and consideration of scientific research findings related to mild traumatic brain injuries and concussions.

Justification

As data becomes more prevalent with respect to the impacts of concussions across populations, it has become vital that the public have information to recognize symptoms and seek appropriate treatment. While most people with concussions make a full recovery, symptoms in some can be debilitating. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury annually. About 75% of these injuries are concussions or other forms of mild traumatic injuries. As such, concussions and mild traumatic injuries should be considered a serious public health threat.

Among those who suffer a concussion, children aged zero to four years, older adolescents aged 15 to 19 years, and adults aged 65 years and older are most likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury.

The Concussion Management and Awareness Act of 2011 gave New York State a robust set of laws to emphasize proper treatment and return-to-play protocols for children and adolescents who have suffered or have been suspected to suffer a traumatic brain injury during interscholastic play. This legislation seeks to further strengthen aspects of brain injury and concussion recognition, treatment, management, and public awareness through the creation of a concussion management advisory committee within the traumatic brain injury services coordinating council in order to address additional

at-risk populations, as well as provide resources to the public at large.

The committee shall be comprised of no more than twelve members, appointed from the membership of the traumatic brain injury services coordinating council and by the commissioner of health. Appointments by the commissioner of health shall be based on experience and expertise with concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries from an academic research or public outreach or awareness standpoint.

The committee shall be tasked with finding methods to raise public awareness and provide coordinated information regarding recognition and management of concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries. Further, the committee will be responsible for considering advancements made in the scientific/academic field related to these injuries for submission to the traumatic brain injury services coordinating council for consideration.

Legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

The concussion management advisory committee will be established within a pre-existing traumatic brain injury services coordinating council using membership from the council. As such, no additional fiscal impact is projected.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.