[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3954 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3954

To provide for systemic research, surveillance, treatment, prevention, 
 awareness, development of rules of play, standards, and dissemination 
  of information with respect to sports-related and other concussions.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 28, 2014

  Mrs. Beatty (for herself, Mrs. Wagner, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Conyers, Ms. 
Kelly of Illinois, and Ms. Wilson of Florida) introduced the following 
 bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and 
 in addition to the Committees on Armed Services and Education and the 
 Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for systemic research, surveillance, treatment, prevention, 
 awareness, development of rules of play, standards, and dissemination 
  of information with respect to sports-related and other concussions.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Concussion Awareness and Education 
Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Findings; purposes.
Sec. 4. Surveillance of sports-related concussions.
Sec. 5. Research.
Sec. 6. Biological sample repository.
Sec. 7. Rules of play.
Sec. 8. Dissemination of information.
Sec. 9. Concussion Research Commission.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS; PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) There is currently no comprehensive system for 
        acquiring accurate data on the incidence of sports- and 
        recreation-related concussions across all youth age groups and 
        sports.
            (2) Overall, according to a report entitled ``Sports-
        Related Concussions in Youth: Improving the Science, Changing 
        the Culture'', issued by the National Academies in 2013, each 
        year in the United States, there are approximately 1.6 to 3.8 
        million sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain 
        injuries, including concussions and other head injuries. These 
        figures are based on conservative estimates.
            (3) A review of National Collegiate Athletic Association 
        data for 15 sports showed that the overall reported concussion 
        rate doubled from 1.7 to 3.4 concussions per 1,000 athletic 
        exposures over the past 15 years, covering the 1988-1989 and 
        2003-2004 academic years.
            (4) Between 2001 and 2009, the reported number of our youth 
        ages 19 and under treated for concussion and other nonfatal, 
        sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries 
        increased from 150,000 to 250,000.
            (5) Over the same time period between 2001 and 2009, the 
        rate of emergency room visits for concussive injuries increased 
        by 57 percent.
            (6) Yet, according to the National Academies there 
        currently is--
                    (A) a lack of data to accurately estimate the 
                incidence of sports-related concussions across a 
                variety of sports and for youth across the pediatric 
                age spectrum; and
                    (B) no comprehensive system for acquiring accurate 
                data on the incidence of sports- and recreation-related 
                concussions across all youth age groups and sports.
            (7) Currently, there are significant information gaps in 
        the proper protocol for diagnosis and treatment of sports-
        related concussions and more research desperately is needed.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to increase awareness and knowledge about concussions 
        through development of, implementation of, and evaluation of 
        the effectiveness of, large-scale collaborative efforts and 
        research by entities including, but not limited to, national 
        sports associations, State high school associations, trainers' 
        associations, appropriate Federal entities, and other 
        stakeholders such as parents, coaches, and students; and
            (2) to change the culture (including social norms, 
        attitudes, and behaviors) surrounding concussions among 
        elementary school through college-aged youth and their parents, 
        coaches, sports officials, educators, trainers, and health care 
        professionals, taking into account demographic variations 
        across population groups, where appropriate.

SEC. 4. SURVEILLANCE OF SPORTS-RELATED CONCUSSIONS.

    Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting 
after section 317T of such Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-22) the following:

``SEC. 317U. SURVEILLANCE OF SPORTS-RELATED CONCUSSIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, and taking into account other Federal data collection 
efforts, shall--
            ``(1) establish and oversee a national system to accurately 
        determine the incidence of sports-related concussions; and
            ``(2) begin implementation of such system not later than 1 
        year after the date of enactment of the Concussion Awareness 
        and Education Act of 2014.
    ``(b) Data To Be Collected.--The data collected under subsection 
(a) shall, to the extent feasible, include each of the following:
            ``(1) The incidence of sports related concussions in 
        individuals 5 through 21 years of age.
            ``(2) Demographic information of the injured individuals, 
        including age, sex, race, and ethnicity.
            ``(3) Pre-existing conditions of the injured individuals, 
        such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning 
        disabilities.
            ``(4) The concussion history of the injured individuals, 
        such as the number and dates of prior concussions.
            ``(5) The use of protective equipment and impact monitoring 
        devices.
            ``(6) The qualifications of personnel diagnosing the 
        concussions.
            ``(7) The cause, nature, and extent of the concussive 
        injury, including--
                    ``(A) the sport or activity involved;
                    ``(B) the recreational or competitive level of the 
                sport or activity involved;
                    ``(C) the event type involved, including whether it 
                was practice or competition;
                    ``(D) the impact location on the body;
                    ``(E) the impact nature, such as contact with a 
                playing surface, another player, or equipment; and
                    ``(F) signs and symptoms consistent with a 
                concussion.''.

SEC. 5. RESEARCH.

    (a) In General.--Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institutes of 
Health and the Secretary of Defense, acting in coordination, shall 
conduct or support--
            (1) research designed to--
                    (A) establish objective, sensitive, and specific 
                metrics and markers of concussion diagnosis, prognosis, 
                and recovery in youth; and
                    (B) inform the creation of age-specific, evidence-
                based guidelines for the management of short- and long-
                term sequelae of concussion in youth;
            (2) controlled, longitudinal, large-scale studies to assess 
        short- and long-term cognitive, emotional, behavioral, 
        neurobiological, and neuropathological consequences of 
        concussions and repetitive head impacts over a life span, 
        including--
                    (A) an examination of the effects of concussions 
                and repetitive head impacts on quality of life and the 
                activities of daily living; and
                    (B) identification of predictors and modifiers of 
                outcomes, including the influence of socioeconomic 
                status, race, ethnicity, sex, and comorbidities; and
            (3) research on age- and sex-related biomechanical 
        determinants of injury risk for concussion in youth, including 
        how injury thresholds are modified by the number of and time 
        interval between head impacts and concussions.
    (b) Sports and Physical Training at Military Academies and for 
Military Personnel.--Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall conduct a 
rigorous scientific evaluation of the effectiveness of techniques, 
rules, and playing, practice, and training standards in reducing 
concussions and sequelae for sports and physical training, including 
combatives, at military service academies and for military personnel.
    (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that the 
National Collegiate Athletic Association, in conjunction with the 
National Federation of State High School Associations, national 
governing bodies for youth sports, and youth sports organizations, 
should undertake a rigorous scientific evaluation of the effectiveness 
of age-appropriate techniques, rules, and playing and practice 
standards in reducing sports-related concussions and sequelae.

SEC. 6. BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE REPOSITORY.

    (a) In General.--To aid research under this Act and any other 
similar research, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 
through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, shall 
maintain a national brain tissue and biological sample repository to 
collect, archive, and distribute material for research on concussions.
    (b) Timing.--The Secretary shall begin implementation of the 
repository not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
Act.

SEC. 7. RULES OF PLAY.

    (a) Development.--The Director of the National Institutes of Health 
and the Secretary of Defense, taking into consideration the results of 
research, shall develop standards, best practices, and guidelines for 
the rules of play and training, respectively, for sports, athletic, and 
military training and engagement that--
            (1) are designed to prevent or reduce the incidence of 
        concussions; and
            (2) include--
                    (A) standards for effective protective equipment; 
                and
                    (B) recommendations on impact-monitoring systems.
    (b) Timing.--The Director of the National Institutes of Health and 
the Secretary of Defense shall--
            (1) begin development of the rules of play under this 
        section not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
        this Act; and
            (2) after such rules of play are finalized, periodically 
        review and update such rules of play as appropriate.

SEC. 8. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 
through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
shall develop and disseminate to the public information regarding 
concussions.
    (b) Arrangements With Other Entities.--In carrying out paragraph 
(1), the Secretary may disseminate information through arrangements 
with nonprofit organizations, consumer groups, institutions of higher 
education, Federal, State, or local agencies, or the media.

SEC. 9. CONCUSSION RESEARCH COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a Concussion Research 
Commission (referred to in this section as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of the 
        following nine members:
                    (A) Five shall be appointed by the President.
                    (B) One shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
                House of Representatives.
                    (C) One shall be appointed by the minority leader 
                of the House of Representatives.
                    (D) One shall be appointed by the majority leader 
                of the Senate.
                    (E) One shall be appointed by the minority leader 
                of the Senate.
            (2) Qualifications.--To be eligible for appointment under 
        paragraph (1), an individual shall--
                    (A) have experience with research, treatment, and 
                prevention with respect to all types of concussive 
                injuries; and
                    (B) be a leading medical or scientific expert, or 
                an otherwise authoritatively qualified expert, in one 
                or more relevant fields.
            (3) Terms.--Each member of the Commission shall be 
        appointed for the life of the Commission.
            (4) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy 
        occurring before the expiration of the term for which the 
        member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for 
        the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the 
        expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken 
        office. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
        manner in which the original appointment was made.
            (5) No pay.--The members of the Commission shall serve 
        without pay. Members of the Commission who are full-time 
        officers or employees of the United States or Members of 
        Congress may not receive additional pay, allowances, or 
        benefits by reason of their service on the Commission.
            (6) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall 
        receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under 
        subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
            (7) Resources.--The Secretary shall ensure that appropriate 
        personnel, funding, and other resources are provided to the 
        Committee to carry out its responsibilities.
    (c) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at least 4 times each 
year.
    (d) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Commission, the 
head of any Federal department or agency may detail, without 
reimbursement, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the 
Commission to assist in carrying out this section.
    (e) Study.--The Commission shall--
            (1) study the programs and activities conducted pursuant to 
        this Act; and
            (2) based on the results of such programs and activities, 
        formulate systemic recommendations for furthering the purposes 
        of this Act, as described in section 3(b).
    (f) Review of National Academies Report.--The Commission shall 
review the report of the National Academies entitled ``Sports-Related 
Concussions in Youth: Improving the Science, Changing the Culture'' and 
recommend corrections or updates to such report, as the Commission 
determines appropriate.
    (g) Reporting.--
            (1) Interim reports.--Every 6 months, the Commission shall 
        submit to the appropriate committees of Congress an interim 
        report on the Commission's activities.
            (2) Final report.--Not later than 36 months after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress, and make available to the 
        public, a final report on the results of the Commission's study 
        under subsection (e) and review under subsection (f).
    (h) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate upon the date of 
submission of the final report required by subsection (g)(2), unless 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services chooses to maintain the 
Commission beyond such date.
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