The Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers has adopted changes to the licensure rules, which became effective on June 24, 2010. These changes include the acceptance of the Board of Certification exam for certain license applicants, guidelines for assessing administrative penalties, procedures for requesting a criminal history evaluation letter, and clarifications to current rules. You may download a copy of the new rules from the board’s website at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/at/at_rules.shtm.

In addition, regarding the acceptance of the BOC exam, the board has prepared an informational sheet based on the questions and concerns directed to the board during the rulemaking process. This sheet is also available at the link above. If you have other questions, please feel free to contact the Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers via e-mail at at@dshs.state.tx.us, or via phone at (512) 834-6615. You may also access the FAQ’s on the TSATA website HERE.

If you are not aware of the Rule Changes you can view them on the Advisory Board’s website at the following address: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/at/at_rules.shtm

 The proposed rules are available for download on the board website (http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/at/default.shtm). You may download a copy of the current rules by clicking the “Rules/Regulations” link in the box to the right. Please check the board website for updates to this process.

If you are a graduating college senior wishing to register for the Sports Medicine Instructors Course please use the following registration form. You may download and print the form and mail it in with a check or fill it out online and submit it if you wish to pay by credit card. If you are paying by credit card a payment link will be e-mailed to you once the registration form has been submitted and your status as a graduating college senior has been verified.

Dates and exact locations for these courses will be posted as soon as they become available. Please check back regularly for information, answers to general questions are always available by visiting the Sports Med Course section of the website available in the Helpful Info section.

Provisions of this bill require:

• Coaches, sponsors, and band directors must complete an on-line extracurricular safety training program.
  • Licensed athletic trainers already meet the safety training requirements

according to 33.202 in the Texas Education code.

• • All coaches, sponsors, and marching band directors must complete the UIL on-line safety course and submit the printed certificate to their athletic director.
  • Physicians assisting athletic teams must ensure that emergency medicine coursework has been completed either through continuing education as required or permitted under Title 3, Subtitle B, Chapter 156, Subchapter B, Section 156.051, Occupation Code, or as a part of medical practice.
• Completion of a yearly safety drill that incorporates the training received in the UIL safety training program will be documented.
• Students, participating in extracurricular activities, shall be presented the Student Safety Course, which is available as a power point presentation on the UIL Website. There must be verification of attendance.
• Accurate completion of all UIL participation forms prior to participation.
• Any answer of yes to the questions relating to cardiovascular issues on the UIL Pre-participation Medical History form requires further evaluation by an appropriate physician.
• Safety procedures for athletic events such as hydration, heat stroke prevention, open emergency lanes, and availability of prescribed asthma medication must be provided.
• Coaches, athletic trainers, or sponsors cannot encourage or permit a student to engage in dangerous athletic techniques.
• Students that have become unconscious during practice or competition of an extracurricular activity may not return to the activity until written authorization is received from a physician.
• Each student and parent shall receive a copy of the UIL parent information manual if requested. (Electronic copy can be made available)
• Each school shall have available proof of completion and compliance to the provisions of this bill.

S.B. A No. A 82

Safety Regulations for Certain Public School Extracurricular Activities

Sec. A 33.202. AA SAFETY TRAINING REQUIRED

(a) American Red Cross, Emergency Medical Systems (EMS), or another appropriate entity.

(b)The following persons must satisfactorily complete the safety training program:

(1) A coach, trainer, or sponsor for an extracurricular athletic activity;

(2) except as provided by Subsection (f), a physician who is employed by a school or school district or who volunteers to assist with an extracurricular athletic activity

(3) a director responsible for a school marching band.

c) The safety training program must include:

(1) certification of participants by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or a similar organization or the University Interscholastic League, as determined by the commissioner;

(2) current training in:

(A) emergency action planning;

(B) cardiopulmonary resuscitation if the person is not required to obtain certification under Section 33.086;

(C) communicating effectively with 9-1-1 emergency service operators and other emergency personnel; and

(D) recognizing symptoms of potentially catastrophic injuries, including head and neck injuries, concussions, injuries related to second impact syndrome, asthma attacks, heatstroke, cardiac arrest, and injuries requiring use of a defibrillator; and

(3) Each school year, a safety drill that incorporates the training described by Subdivision (2) and simulates various injuries described by Subdivision (2) (D).

(d) AA A school district shall provide training to students participating in an extracurricular athletic activity related to:

(1) recognizing the symptoms of injuries described by Subsection (c)(2)(D);

(2) the risks of using dietary supplements designed to enhance or marketed as enhancing athletic performance.

(e) The safety training program and the training under Subsection d may each be conducted by a school or school district

or by an organization described by Subsection (c)(1).

(f) A physician who is employed by a school or school district or who volunteers to assist with an extracurricular athletic activity is not required to complete the safety training program if the physician attends a continuing medical education course that specifically addresses emergency medicine.

Sec. A 33.203. A COMPLETION OF UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE FORMS

(a) Each student must complete the University Interscholastic League forms entitled:

1.”Preparticipation Physical Evaluation–Medical History” 2.”Acknowledgment of Rules

3.” Each form must be signed by both the student and the student ’ s parent or guardian.

(b) Must clearly state that failure to accurately and truthfully answer all questions on a form required by statute or by the University Interscholastic League

Sec. A 33.204. AA CERTAIN UNSAFE ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES

PROHIBITED A coach, trainer, or sponsor for an extracurricular athletic activity may not encourage or permit a student participating in the activity to engage in any unreasonably dangerous athletic technique that unnecessarily endangers the health of a student, including using a helmet or any other sports equipment as a weapon.

Sec. A 33.205. AA CERTAIN SAFETY PRECAUTIONS REQUIRED

(a) AA A coach, trainer, or sponsor for an extracurricular athletic activity shall at each athletic practice or competition ensure that:

(1)each student participating in the activity is adequately hydrated;

(2)any prescribed asthma medication for a student participating in the activity are readily available to the student;

(3)emergency lanes providing access to the practice or competition area are open and clear; and

(4)heatstroke prevention materials are readily available.

(b) If a student participating becomes unconscious during the activity, the student may not:

(1) Return to the practice or competition during which the student became unconscious; or

(2) Participate in any extracurricular athletic activity until the student receives written authorization for such participation from a physician.

Sec. A 33.206. AA COMPLIANCE; ENFORCEMENT

(a) In accordance with Chapter 552, Government Code, a school shall make available to the public proof of compliance for each person enrolled in, employed by, or volunteering for the school who is required to receive safety training described by Section 33.202.

(b) The superintendent of a school district or the director of a school subject to this subchapter shall maintain complete and accurate records of the district’s or school’s compliance with

Section 33.202

(c) A school campus that is determined by the schoo l ’s superintendent or director to be out of compliance with Section 33.202, 33.204, or 33.205 with regard to University Interscholastic League activities shall be subject to the range of penalties determined by the University Interscholastic League.

Sec. A 33.207. AA CONTACT INFORMATION

(a)The commissioner shall maintain an existing telephone number and an electronic mail address to allow a person to report a violation of this subchapter.

(b) Each school that offers an extracurricular athletic activity shall prominently display at the administrative offices of the school the telephone number and electronic mail address maintained under Subsection (a).

Sec. A 33.208. AA NOTICE REQUIRED.

(a) A A school that offers an extracurricular athletic activity shall provide to each student participating in an extracurricular athletic activity and to the student ’ s parent or guardian a copy of the text of Sections 33.201-33.207 and a copy of the University Interscholastic League ’ s parent information manual.

(b) A document required to be provided under this section may be provided in an electronic format unless otherwise requested by a student, parent, or guardian.

Sec. A 33.209. A INCORPORATION OF SAFETY REGULATIONS

The University Interscholastic League shall incorporate the provisions of Sections 33.203-33.207 into the league ’ s constitution and contest rules.

Sec. A 33.210. A IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY This subchapter does not waive any liability or immunity of a school district or its officers or employees. This subchapter does not create any liability for or a cause of action against a school district or its officers or employees.

Sec. A 33.211. A LIMITATION ON LIABILITY A person who volunteers to assist with an extracurricular activity is not liable for civil damages arising out of an act or omission relating to the requirements under Section 33.205 unless the act or omission is willfully or wantonly negligent.

SECTION A 2. AA Subchapter F, Chapter 33, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2008-2009 school year.

SECTION A 3. AA This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. A No. A 82 passed the Senate on

March A 19, A 2007, by the following vote: Yeas A 29, Nays A 0; and that the Senate concurred in House amendments on May A 18, A 2007, by the following vote: Yeas A 29, Nays A 0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. A No. A 82 passed the House, with amendments, on May A 15, A 2007, by the following vote: Yeas A 129,

Nays A 12, one present not voting