Press Release, Click here

Legislative Press Release, Click here

Video interview explaining the proposed bill, Click here

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Update:

Sam Nesser, a 21-year-old brain injury survivor, led a long list of witnesses to support the bill.

She said she suffered a significant injury in a basketball game, and was later diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury after suffering several problems, including Fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic headaches and more.

She subsequently had difficulties in school, and was overly sensitive to light, sounds and smells, eventually forcing her to get an individualized education plan, she said.

Ms. Nesser said her life would have been different if the bill had been law earlier, saying her coaches, parents and others would have been more aware of head injuries in athletic settings.

Bob Gray, Cleveland Clinic's coordinator of community affairs, also lent support. He said concussions have a significant impact on young people and added the bill would help minimize the impact that those injuries have.

He said bill would eliminate coach discretion in allowing athletes to return to competition or practice until they receive clearance from a medical professional. Mr. Gray said athletic trainers are trained to look out for the best interest of athletes.

Responding to questions, he said trainers often get baseline brain activity testing before seasons begin, so they can compare responses after injuries are sustained. He also told lawmakers he is comfortable with liability issues in the bill.

Dr. Kelly Roush, a certified chiropractic sports physician, urged the panel to eliminate the exclusion of chiropractic physicians to make decisions about plans for concussed athletes to return to play.

Chiropractors are capable of evaluating those with concussions, saying they have training in neurology and many have sports medicine specialties, she said. Many rural schools already face problems in finding team physicians, and said excluding chiropractors would make that issue more significant.

Dr. Adam Bartsch, director of the Cleveland Clinic's spine research laboratory, also backed the bill. He said the measure will increase concussion awareness among players, coaches, parents and administrators, and said the bill provides a clear path to follow to reduce injuries.

He said the clinic is so supportive of the bill, it would offer to help collaborate in the development of information on head injuries, an online training program and more.

Dr. Ed Benzel, chair of neurological surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, said the development of objective standards regarding concussions and athletics is needed, saying they will help reduce the risk to young people.

Dr. Benzel added that the bill should be seen as a first step in creating a statewide standard of care. He said parents should expect that their children will be removed from sporting events if coaches suspect they may be injured, saying even professional athletes have been known to die earlier due to head injuries.

Rep. McKenney questioned whether the bill is too vague in terms of determining treatment. Dr. Benzel said the measure provides a good starting point.

Rep. Sears asked whether the bill could encourage athletes and coaches to conceal suspected injuries. "That's just such a massive gray area," she said.

Dr. Benzel said athletes already have a tendency to hide their injuries, but the bill would help change the culture in athletics.

Rep. Goodwin questioned whether the bill goes too far, and whether some kind of middle ground could be reached.

Dr. Benzel said the measure is a good first step. "This looks pretty watered down to me," he said. "This looks like a good start."

Dr. Scott Euype, representing the Ohio Physical Therapy Association, asked the panel to include physical therapists to the legislation. He said the change would increase the number of potential medical aides in underserved areas, adding that physical therapists are properly trained to provide the care.

Chair Wachtmann noted that members are likely to add additional providers.

Hollie Kozak, president of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association, also backed the bill. She said the measure will help educate parents of children who participate in sports; improve education of coaches and officials and standardize who can made decisions regarding return-to-play.

Dr. Kelsey Logan, a pediatric sports medicine specialist, said the bill has been needed for a long time. She said there are currently no standards regarding concussions for many young athletes. "As a physician who treats hundreds of concussed athletes every year, I see that many coaches struggle with understanding what a concussion is," she said. "We have a great opportunity to help the entire athletic community with education."

Dr. Steven Cuff and Dr. Thomas Pommering, co-directors of Nationwide Children's Hospital's Sports Medicine Concussion Program, also appeared as proponents, said concussions can cause debilitating symptoms and severe emotional problems."

"As pediatric sports medicine physicians who treat hundreds of concussion patients each year, some of the worst outcomes we have seen have come from kids who continued to play after suffering a concussion only to sustain further trauma in the same or subsequent games," they said. "Ever year in the U.S. there are reports of young athletes that die or are permanently disabled after returning too quickly from a concussion."

Eric Ball, director of player relations for the Cincinnati Bengals, said the measure will protect student athletes. The bill will help educate young people and their parents about concussions and minimize needless head injuries, he said. "I particularly think it's important that this law will place all young athletes on the same level and the provisions of the law will apply to everyone, whether it's a football player here in Columbus or a female high school soccer star in Cleveland."

Jason Dapore, an OhioHealth sports medicine physician who is a team physician for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Upper Arlington City Schools, backed the bill. He said concussion treatment generally involves a five-to-seven day return to play protocol that calls for gradual increases in activity.

"Our experience has found that education, prompt injury recognition and removal from play while working with qualified physicians and athletic trainers helps provide a safe field of play," he said.

Suzanne Minnich, executive director of the Brain Injury Association of Ohio, said the bill helps increase awareness of head injuries. "All involved need to know the signs and symptoms of concussions which can show up right after the injury or may not appear or be noticed until days after the injury," she said. "Additionally they need to realize that most concussions occur without loss of consciousness, but can be caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or body."

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