Vermont H 139: An act relating to requiring licensed athletic trainers at secondary school athletic events and practices

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.139
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VT LEG #378668 v.4
H.139 1
Introduced by Representatives Hango of Berkshire, Branagan of Georgia, 2
Christie of Hartford, Cina of Burlington, Coffin of Cavendish, 3
Demar of Enosburgh, Kascenska of Burke, Krasnow of South 4
Burlington, Lipsky of Stowe, McFaun of Barre Town, Morgan, 5
M. of Milton, Noyes of Wolcott, Oliver of Sheldon, Page of 6
Newport City, Pinsonault of Dorset, Walker of Swanton, and 7
Wells of Brownington 8
Referred to Committee on 9
Date: 10
Subject: Education; athletics; student health; athletic trainers 11
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the 12
Agency of Education to convene a working group to study the need and 13
available resources for requiring the presence of a licensed athletic trainer at all 14
secondary school athletic events and practices. The working group should also 15
explore how athletic trainers could be shared between districts or supervisory 16
unions in a cost-effective manner. 17
An act relating to requiring licensed athletic trainers at secondary school 18
athletic events and practices 19

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VT LEG #378668 v.4
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 1
Sec. 1. FINDINGS 2
The General Assembly finds that: 3
(1) Most secondary schools in Vermont do not employ any medical 4
personnel outside of school hours, when most athletic practices and events take 5
place, and injuries can occur at any time. 6
(2) In rural Vermont, where the majority of Vermont’s school athletic 7
facilities are located, emergency medical services (EMS) are spread thinly and 8
are frequently located a considerable distance away from the location of an 9
emergency call. 10
(3) Lack of rural cell phone coverage also impedes calling EMS to the 11
scene of an injury occurring at a secondary school athletic event. 12
(4) Many students are without personal or family transportation to 13
medical facilities on any given day and may delay seeking evaluation and 14
treatment that could be rendered by a licensed athletic trainer. 15
(5) Many students lack a primary care provider due to area shortages, 16
wait times, or family economic situation. For students of lower socioeconomic 17
status, an athletic trainer may be one of the only accessible medical providers. 18
Athletic trainers manage a myriad of injuries and illnesses and can make 19
proper referrals when warranted. 20

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VT LEG #378668 v.4
(6) The scope of a licensed athletic trainer’s practice is codified in 26 1
V.S.A. chapter 83. It includes emergent care, first aid, and diagnostic skills for 2
various illnesses and injuries, such as concussion management, as well as the 3
capacity to get to know the whole athlete, both physically and mentally, 4
including the ability to recognize conditions such as eating disorders, anxiety, 5
and depression. 6
(7) Athletic trainers can educate individuals about, prevent, and 7
rehabilitate athletic-specific injuries and illnesses, which can in turn reduce the 8
stress placed on the broader health care network, which is already pushing the 9
limits of its capacity. 10
Sec. 2. SECONDARY SCHOOL USE OF ATHLETIC TRAINERS 11
WORKING GROUP; REPORT 12
(a) Creation. There is created the Secondary School Use of Athletic 13
Trainers Working Group to study the need and available resources for 14
requiring the presence of a licensed athletic trainer at all secondary school 15
athletic events and practices. 16
(b) Membership. The Working Group shall be composed of the following 17
members: 18
(1) the Secretary of Education or designee; 19
(2) the Executive Director of the Vermont Principals’ Association or 20
designee; 21

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VT LEG #378668 v.4
(3) the Executive Director of the Vermont School Boards Association or 1
designee; 2
(4) the Executive Director of the Vermont Superintendents Association 3
or designee; 4
(5) the Executive Director of the Vermont National Education 5
Association or designee; 6
(6) the Executive Director of the Vermont State Athletic Directors 7
Association or designee; 8
(7) the President of the Vermont Association of Athletic Trainers or 9
designee; and 10
(8) one licensed athletic trainer who practices at a secondary school, 11
appointed by the Vermont Association of Athletic Trainers. 12
(c) Powers and duties. The Working Group shall study the need and 13
available resources for requiring the presence of a licensed athletic trainer at all 14
secondary school athletic events and practices, including exploring how 15
athletic trainers could be shared between districts or supervisory unions in a 16
cost-effective manner. 17
(d) Assistance. The Working Group shall have the assistance of the 18
Agency of Education for the purposes of scheduling meetings and processing 19
compensation and reimbursement pursuant to subsection (g) of this section. 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.139