HLS 19RS-575 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 40
BY REPRESENTATIVE NORTON
SCHOOLS/HIGH SCHOOL: Requests the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education to adopt policies requiring more rigorous student athlete health screenings
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to adopt
3 policies requiring more extensive testing of the health of student athletes in
4 Louisiana's secondary schools.
5 WHEREAS, participation in organized athletics is an integral and enriching
6experience for students in Louisiana secondary schools; and
7 WHEREAS, due to the nature of athletic competition, student athletes face inherent
8risks to their health and safety when participating in school-organized athletic practices,
9events, and games; and
10 WHEREAS, the leading causes of death among secondary school athletes are sudden
11cardiac arrest, traumatic head injuries, exertional heat stroke, and exertional sickling; and
12 WHEREAS, The Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine published a study
13conducted by the University of Connecticut that included rankings of states regarding the
14implementation of evidence-based best practices for preventing and managing the leading
15causes of sudden death in secondary school athletics; the purpose of the study was to provide
16a graded assessment of the implementation of health and safety policies pertaining to the
17leading causes of sudden death and catastrophic injury in secondary school athletics within
18the United States and the District of Columbia; Louisiana ranked 43rd in their 2019
19rankings; and
20 WHEREAS, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 52 of the 2005 Regular Session
21requested the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to study the issue of
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HCR NO. 40
1improving the health and safety of student athletes in Louisiana's secondary schools; in
2response to the resolution, the board submitted findings from preliminary investigations; and
3 WHEREAS, the board concluded there is a need for further comprehensive study in
4the areas of high blood pressure, concussion and mild traumatic brain injury, congenital
5cardiovascular disease, performance-enhancing drugs including steroids, spinal cord injury,
6and heat-related illness; and
7 WHEREAS, the safety of Louisiana's student-athletes should be the highest priority,
8and it is important to work towards minimizing the inherent risks that all sports entail; and
9 WHEREAS, through the implementation of required policies and procedures, schools
10can be well prepared to preserve and protect the health of students.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
12urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to adopt policies
13requiring more extensive testing of the health of student athletes in Louisiana's secondary
14schools.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
16president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 40 Original 2019 Regular Session Norton
Requests that the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education adopt policies requiring
more extensive testing of the health of student athletes in secondary schools.
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