Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Vitale, Lesniak, Allen, Bateman, A.R.Bucco, T.Kean, Cruz-Perez, Sacco, Whelan, Codey, Weinberg, Stack, Pennacchio, Thompson and Turner
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
As introduced.
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 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.