STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2227

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2211

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2211 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONCUSSIONS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to further expand the scope of the concussion educational program to protect all children in the State.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Psychological Association, Hoomanapono Political Action Committee, and eight individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Athletic Trainers' Association.

 

     Your Committees find that Act 197, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, required the Department of Education and Hawaii High School Athletic Association to develop a concussion educational program for students ages fourteen to eighteen.  Your Committees further find that Act 262, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, expanded the scope of the concussion educational program to cover students age eleven to eighteen and added program requirements.  Your Committees note that the University of Hawaii is currently working on a concussion educational program for middle and elementary school students.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Amending the definition of "school athletics" to specify athletic events starting from third grade;

 

     (2)  Amending the definition of "youth athletic activity" to mean activities where the majority of participants are eight years of age and older;

 

     (3)  Inserting an appropriation for the continuation of the concussion educational program for middle and elementary school students; and

 

     (4)  Making the appropriation effective on July 1, 2018.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2211, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2211, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

 

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair