Concussion bill headed to Indiana House after 41-9 OK in Senate

The bill was approved by the Indiana Senate on a 41-9 vote and now moves to the Indiana House, where it failed to get a hearing in 2015.

“I’m assuming it will go to the House Education Committee,” Lanane said. “I’m planning to meet with the committee chairman about getting a hearing on the legislation."

This session a co-sponsor of the legislation is Rep. Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis, who is chairman of the House Education Committee along with Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie. Two Madison County lawmakers, Rep. Terri Austin, D-Anderson, and Rep. Tony Cook, R-Cicero, serve on the Education Committee.

Lanane said having Behning as a co-sponsor doesn’t guarantee the bill will receive a hearing, but he’s hoping the proposed legislation gets a chance at being considered.

The bill requires that beginning on July 1, 2017, the completion of a certified player safety education course by head and assistant coaches before coaching student athletes in any sport.

It provides immunity for coaches who comply with the training and who provide coaching services in good faith from damages as a result of a concussion or head injury incurred by a student athlete.

Coaches are required to be certified every two years. If there is a change in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention course, the coaches are to be informed that they are required to take the revised course.

“There is no cost,” Lanane said. “It just puts another set of eyes on the sidelines looking for potential problems.”

With the new emphasis on concussion injuries in the National Football League, steps should be taken to protect young athletes, he said.

Lanane’s legislation would extend concussion protocols to all sports in Indiana and from the fifth to the 12th grades.

Indiana law currently only covers student athletes competing in football from the eighth to the 12th grades.

“I want to extend the protections to all sports,” Lanane said. “In a young child, their brains are still developing and a concussion can impact that development.”

Lanane said his proposed legislation, if approved, would extend concussion protocol protections to an additional 344,000 Indiana children participating in sports.

“I want to extend it down to the lower grades,” he said. “It’s crucial that we raise concussion awareness by all the coaches.”

Lanane said the protocols require detection of concussion injuries and to require a medical clearance to return to participate.

“Right now the law only covers football,” he said. “Concussions can take place in all sports.”

Lanane said studies have found that athletes who suffer a concussion are more prone to another injury.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association opposed the legislation in 2015, but was silent during the Senate committee hearing this month.

“The IHSAA bylaws already contain language that requires every high school coach must complete the NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) Concussion course and one additional approved course,” Bobby Cox, IHSAA commissioner, wrote in an email. “I believe the curriculum already provided by the NFHS and required by the IHSAA meets the provisions of Senate Bill 234. Since the IHSAA only governs student athletes and coaches in our 408 member schools, I cannot speak to students and coaches in grade 8 and below.”