The Kentucky Senate is expected to vote on legislation that would prevent school athletes who suffer from concussion from returning to play too soon.
The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved the House measure today. While voting for the bill, Leitchfield Senator Stephen Meredith said he would like to see the legislation require approval by physicians only.
"My son is a family medicine physician who has received that training in concussion protocol and he has shared with me how other healthcare professionals have said 'Yeah, that child is okay to play' and he said the obviously were not. That just enhances the risk to the child," Meredith said.
The bill would allow licensed health care providers to clear student athletes for play. Kentucky High School Athletics Association General Counsel Chad Collins said the scope of training for providers would need to include care for concussion-related injuries. Louisville Senator Julie Raque Adams asked if the bill would pertain to club sports. Collins said it would cover interscholastic sports not sanctioned by KHSAA.
© 2017 WEKU
