Bill Text: NJ A1837 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires public school students with concussion to be evaluated by licensed health care professionals before return to school; requires school districts to provide restrictions or limitations to student as needed.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 21-6)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-10-18 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [A1837 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A1837-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman GABRIELA M. MOSQUERA
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman ELIZABETH MAHER MUOIO
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman NANCY J. PINKIN
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman ANGELICA M. JIMENEZ
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblyman JOHN DIMAIO
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Eustace, Assemblywomen Jones, Tucker, Assemblyman Giblin, Assemblywomen N.Munoz, Chaparro, Caride, Assemblyman Bramnick, Assemblywomen McKnight, B.DeCroce, Assemblyman A.M.Bucco and Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle
SYNOPSIS
Requires public school students with concussion to be evaluated by licensed health care professionals before return to school; requires school districts to provide restrictions or limitations to student as needed.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the health of students and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A student enrolled in a school district who sustains a concussion shall receive an evaluation by a licensed health care professional and written clearance from the licensed health care professional to return to school. In the event that the licensed health care professional provides notice that the student requires restrictions or limitations, the school district 504 team as defined in N.J.A.C.6A:8-1.3 shall immediately implement the restrictions or limitations and shall notify all teachers and staff who have contact with students of the restrictions or limitations. The school district's 504 team shall promptly identify the manner in which the restrictions or limitations will be provided to the student during recovery and the need for the continuation or adjustment of the restrictions or limitations, and to determine the duration of the restrictions or limitations.
b. A student enrolled in a school district who sustains a concussion is prohibited from engaging in any physical activity at school including, but not limited to, recess or physical education, and shall not participate in any physical activity at school until the student is evaluated by a licensed health care professional and receives written clearance from the licensed health care professional to participate in physical activity.
c. As used in this section, "licensed health care professional" means a health care provider whose scope of practice includes the ability to diagnose and treat concussion.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that a student enrolled in a school district who sustains a concussion must receive an evaluation by a licensed health care professional and written clearance from the licensed health care professional to return to school. In the event that the licensed health care professional provides notice that the student requires restrictions or limitations, the school district 504 team, as defined in N.J.A.C.6A:8-1.3, (a group of persons that makes program and placement decisions according to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, and 34 CFR § 104.35(c)), must immediately implement the restrictions or limitations and notify all teachers and staff who have contact with the student of the restrictions or limitations. The school district's 504 team would promptly identify the manner in which the restrictions or limitations would be provided to the student during recovery and the need for the continuation or adjustment of the restrictions or limitations, and to determine the duration of the restrictions or limitations.
The bill also provides that a student enrolled in a school district who sustains a concussion is prohibited from engaging in any physical activity at school including, but not limited to, recess or physical education. The student may not participate in any physical activity until evaluated by a licensed health care professional and receives written clearance to participate.
As defined in the bill, "licensed health care professional" means a health care provider whose scope of practice includes the ability to diagnose and treat concussion.
