Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 112288
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File Number: 112288 File Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Version: 0 Reference: R-943-11 Control: Board of County Commissioners
File Name: IMPROVE SAFEGUARD FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES HEAD INJURIES Introduced: 10/26/2011
Requester: NONE Cost: Final Action: 11/3/2011
Agenda Date: 11/3/2011 Agenda Item Number: 11A36
Notes: Title: RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PASS SB 256, HB 291 OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION IMPROVING SAFEGUARD FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES WHO MAY HAVE SUFFERED CONCUSSIONS
Indexes: LEGISLATURE
Sponsors: Joe A. Martinez, Prime Sponsor
  Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor
  Barbara J. Jordan, Co-Sponsor
Sunset Provision: No Effective Date: Expiration Date:
Registered Lobbyist: None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body Date Agenda Item Action Sent To Due Date Returned Pass/Fail
Board of County Commissioners 11/3/2011 11A36 Adopted P
REPORT: Chairman Martinez noted the National Football League and other leagues adopted guidelines for athletes suspected of sustaining concussions. He also noted the Florida Legislature filed legislation to provide improved safeguards for high school athletes. Chairman Martinez proceeded to introduce Mr. David Goldstein to further comment on this proposed resolution. Mr. David Goldstein, a junior at Ransom Everglades School spoke in support of the foregoing proposed resolution, which urged the County Commission to support the passage of Senate Bill 256 and House Bill 291. He noted he suffered from three concussions and was personally aware of the pain and fear caused by these injuries. Mr. Goldstein explained that the proposed legislation would protect youth athletes at no cost to the County and that his project, Countywide Concussion Care, had raised over $35,000 in the past years to spread concussion education and provide impact concussion testing throughout the County. He further indicated that Miami-Dade County was the only county providing concussion testing to all public schools that offered athletic programs, according to Dr. Gillian Hotz, University of Miami Neurophysiologist. Mr. Goldstein explained that this legislation provided rules and guidelines for school and youth athletics, including club sports and organized recreational athletics at parks and youth centers. He noted the legislation would mandate parental consent; educate parents, athletes, coaches, administrators and referees; remove athletes from play suspected of head trauma; and provide a recovery plan managed by medical professionals. Chairman Martinez congratulated Mr. Goldstein and suggested that he establish a fundraiser for this project. Mr. Goldstein indicated that he raised an initial $8,000 at Ransom Everglades School and an additional $27,000 through personal solicitations. He noted the initial $35,000 would support impact testing for all public schools with athletic programs in the County for several years; however, more money would be needed in the future. Commissioner Sosa noted the Commission already approved legislation on June 3, 2010 related to head injuries to youths participating in team sports at County parks and facilities. She commended Mr. Goldstein and his family and offered her support to any future efforts on behalf of this initiative. Commissioner Diaz also commended Mr. Goldstein, stressing that awareness was needed to protect athletes and offered his support. Commissioner Moss questioned the testing process. Mr. Goldstein responded that impact tests measuring cognitive functions were developed by neuroscience physicians at the University of Pittsburg. He noted a base line test would be administered by Dr. Hotz on all student athletes and then compared to a subsequent test measuring reaction times that was administered after a suspected concussion. Chairman Moss congratulated Mr. Goldstein, noting this project would help student athletes in the future. Commissioner Jordan commended Mr. Goldstein, noting he not only saw a problem but did something about it to help everyone. Chairman Martinez acknowledged Mr. Goldstein, noting he had created a significant impact. Assistant County Attorney Jess McCarty advised that a scrivener’s error should be corrected on handwritten page 4, in the 5th Whereas Clause; and on handwritten page 5, in the Now, Therefore Clause in Section 2 of the foregoing proposed resolution should be corrected to change the name “Senator Anitere Florida” to “Senator Anitere Flores”. Hearing no further questions or comments, the Commission proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution as corrected.
County Manager 10/31/2011 Scrivener's Errors
REPORT: On handwritten page 4 (in the 5th Whereas) and handwritten page 5 (in the Now, Therefore, Section 2) should read Senator Anitere Flores.
County Attorney 10/26/2011 Assigned Jess M. McCarty
Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PASS SB 256, HB 291 OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION IMPROVING SAFEGUARD FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES WHO MAY HAVE SUFFERED CONCUSSIONS

BODY

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define a concussion as a type of traumatic brain injury that is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head that can change the way the brain normally works; and
WHEREAS, the CDC estimate there are 135,000 emergency-room visits per year for traumatic brain injuries among youths age 5 to 18, but it is believed that many more concussions go unreported or even undetected among this age group; and
WHEREAS, the CDC estimates that there may be as many as 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions in the U.S. each year; and
WHEREAS, according to the Brain Injury Association of Florida:
* More than 40 percent of high school athletes who are seriously injured in the head return to participate in sports before they are fully recovered;
* Approximately 400,000 high school athletes received concussions from sports activities during the 2005 to 2008 school years;
* From 1997 to 2007, the number of youth athletes seen with sports-related concussions in emergency rooms doubled and for those between ages 14 and 19, it more than tripled;
* High school athletes with three or more concussions are nine times more likely to have permanent mental changes; and
* Children and teens are more likely to get a concussion and take longer to recover than adults; and

WHEREAS, advocates for legislation related to youths receiving sports-related concussions promote the following three components:
* Education on the dangers of concussions;
* Removal from participation for players who receive a head injury; and
* Delayed return until a medical professional provides a clearance; and

WHEREAS, named for a young football player who sustained serious injury after he returned to play too soon following a concussion, the �Zackery Lystedt Law� has been adopted in several states, including Washington and Oregon, and is under consideration in several other states, as well as before the U.S. Congress; and
WHEREAS, on June 3, 2010, this Board adopted Resolution No. 635-10 setting policy for Miami-Dade County that, for any youth team sports taking place at Miami-Dade County facilities, the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department shall provide information regarding traumatic brain injury and concussion prevention in the form of pamphlets and other documents, make such information available at various Parks Department locations and accessible on the Department�s website; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 635-10 also directed the Mayor or Designee to create an educational campaign about the dangers of concussions for athletes, parents and coaches who participate in youth team sports at Miami-Dade County Parks or other County owned or operated facilities; and
WHEREAS, bills were considered during the Florida Legislature�s 2011 sesion, SB 730 by Senator Anitere Flores (R � Miami) and HB 301 by Representative Ronald �Doc� Renuart (R � Ponte Vedra Beach) that would have required physicians or osteopaths to issue medical clearances, prior to a head-injured student�s return to play, and would have required the Florida High School Athletic Association and independent sanctioning authorities of youth athletic teams to adopt policies regarding educating athletes, parents and administrators on sports-related concussions and head injuries; and
WHEREAS, while both the House and Senate passed versions of this legislation, both chambers did not pass the same bill, resulting in no legislation passing the Florida Legislature during the 2011 session; and
WHEREAS, such legislation related to youth athletes and concussions has been refiled for consideration during the 2012 session, SB 256 by Senator Flores and HB 291 by Representative Renuart; and
WHEREAS, this Board supports passage of this legislation,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to pass SB 256, HB 291 or similar legislation improving safeguards for high school athletes who may have suffered concussions.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of the resolution to the Governor, the Senate President, the House Speaker, Senator Anitere Flores, the Chair and remaining members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation, and Representative Rondald "Doc" Renuart.
Section 3. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the issue identified in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2012 state legislative package to include this item.


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