Concussion management guidelines with respect to school-aged children

Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 317T the following:

317U.

Concussion management guidelines with respect to school-aged children

(a)

Concussion management guidelines

(1)

Establishment

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish concussion management guidelines that address the prevention, identification, treatment, and management of concussions (as defined by the Secretary) in school-aged children, including standards for such children to return to play after experiencing such a concussion, and shall make available such guidelines and standards to the general public, including health professionals. (2)

Conference

The Secretary shall convene a conference of medical, athletic, and educational stakeholders for purposes of assisting in the establishment of the guidelines. (b)

Grants to States

(1)

In general

After establishing the guidelines under subsection (a), the Secretary may make grants to States for purposes of— (A)providing for the collection by target entities of information on the incidence and prevalence of concussions among school-aged children attending or participating in such entities; (B)adopting, disseminating, and ensuring the implementation by target entities of the guidelines; (C)funding implementation by target entities of pre-season baseline and post-injury testing, including computerized testing, for school-aged children; and (D)any other activity or purpose specified by the Secretary. (2)

Grant applications

(A)

In general

To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, the Secretary shall require a State to submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary shall require. (B)

Minimum contents

The Secretary shall require that an application of a State under subparagraph (A) contain at a minimum— (i)a description of the strategies the State will use to disseminate, and ensure the implementation by target entities of, the guidelines, including coordination with ongoing State-based efforts to implement State laws governing youth concussion management; and (ii)an agreement by the State to periodically provide data to the Secretary with respect to the incidence of concussions and second impact syndrome among school-aged children in the State. (3)

Utilization of high school sports associations, youth sports associations, athletic trainer associations, and local chapters of national brain injury organizations

In disseminating and ensuring the implementation by target entities of the guidelines pursuant to a grant under this subsection, the Secretary shall require States receiving grants under this subsection to utilize, to the extent practicable, applicable expertise and services offered by high school sports associations, youth sports associations, athletic trainer associations, and local chapters of national brain injury organizations in such States. (c)

Coordination of activities

In carrying out activities under this section, the Secretary shall coordinate in an appropriate manner with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that carry out activities related to concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. (d)

Reports

(1)

Establishment of the guidelines

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on the implementation of subsection (a). (2)

Grant program and data collection

Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on the implementation of subsection (b), including— (A)the number of States that have adopted the guidelines; (B)the number of target entities that have implemented pre-season baseline and post-injury testing, including computerized testing, for school-aged children; and (C)the data collected with respect to the incidence of concussions and second impact syndrome among school-aged children. (e)

Definitions

In this section: (1)The term guidelines means the concussion management guidelines established under subsection (a). (2)The term return to play means, with respect to a school-aged child experiencing a concussion, the return of such child to participating in the sport or other activity related to such concussion. (3)The term school-aged children means individuals who are at least 5 years of age and not more than 18 years of age. (4)The term second impact syndrome means catastrophic or fatal events that occur when an individual suffers a concussion while symptomatic and healing from a previous concussion. (5)The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (6)The term State means each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia. (7)The term target entity means an elementary school, a secondary school, or a youth sports association.