Commentary: The State Senate passed a bill Saturday that expands guidelines for treating head injuries suffered by student athletes by lengthening the rest period after a suspected concussion, and calls for these procedures to cover non-school related youth athletic programs.
Senate Bill 137 (SB 137), Student Athlete Brain Injury Protocols, which passed the Senate on a 35-4 vote, amends the protocols that were enacted in 2010.
“As our understanding of brain injuries increases, we learn the importance of allowing the young athlete sufficient time to recover,” said the bill’s sponsor, Senate Majority Floor Leader Michael S. Sanchez (D-29, Bernalillo, Valencia). “The most recent concussion guidelines suggest athletes wait 10 days before returning to play and this bill was written in consultation with doctors and experts in the field of brain injuries. The bill will help protect our children from life-changing injuries.”
SB137 also extends the brain injury protocols to non-public-school, youth-athletic organizations that take place on school grounds, including Little League, AABC and other baseball programs, local youth soccer programs, and Young Athletic Football League teams.
SB 137 now heads to the House of Representative for consideration.