SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6190

BYSenators West, Kreidler, Wojahn, Bailey, Nelson, McDonald, Warnke, Niemi, Conner and Stratton

Providing for the prevention of head injuries.

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 9, 1990; January 10, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6190 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators West, Chairman; Johnson, Kreidler, Niemi, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Don Sloma (786-7414)

                  January 11, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE, JANUARY 10, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Health reports that traumatic brain injury or head injury " ... is a leading cause of premature death and lifelong disability in Washington State."  There are almost 5,000 new head injury patients hospitalized annually in Washington.  Almost half (45.4 percent) are under age 25.  Seventy percent are 44 years of age or younger. 

More than half of all head injuries (57 percent) are due to motor vehicle related accidents.  Falls, assaults, and recreational accidents account for the remainder.

Medical care for a single case of head injury can range from $7,677 for initial hospitalization to $162,000 for long term rehabilitation.  In fiscal year 1986, hospital care for head injury patients cost some $36 million with 42 percent of these costs coming from public programs.  Head injury patients account for more than one third of the patients receiving $47,500 or more in medical care annually through the state Medicaid program.

A December 1989 Department of Health report indicates that effective measures exist to prevent head injury including stiffer penalties for drunk driving, seat belt use, mandatory use of helmets for motorcyclists, use of bicycle helmets, use of child seat belts and child car seats, education regarding pedestrian, bicycle and auto safety and other means.

SUMMARY:

A head injury prevention program is created in the Department of Health.  The program must identify and coordinate public education efforts now underway designed to prevent traumatic brain injury.  If the department finds such programs are not available or not in use, it may, within funds appropriated, provide grants to promote such efforts.

The department shall assess or contract for the assessment of the effectiveness of traumatic brain injury prevention education efforts initiated by any agency of state government.  At least 15 percent, but no more than 20 percent of appropriations shall be used for such assessments.  Additional funds may be sought from federal or private sources.

The Department of Health, the Department of Licensing, and the Traffic Safety Commission shall cooperate in developing education and testing tools to increase driver awareness in methods for avoiding accidents.

A statewide traumatic brain injury registry is authorized to collect information on the incidence, severity, and causes of traumatic brain injury.  Information from the registry is to be used in the design of future prevention and treatment programs.  The Department of Health must report to the Legislature on the cost and feasibility of expanding the registry to include information on minor brain injury.

The Department of Health must prepare guidelines on relevant training and education materials regarding traumatic brain injury for health and education professionals.  The guidelines and recommendations for training and education requirements for health professionals or educators must be distributed to educational service districts and to all health professional regulatory authorities.

It is unlawful for any person over the age of 18 years to operate or ride upon motorcycles or motor-driven cycles on a state highway, county road, or city street unless wearing a protective helmet approved by the State Patrol.

No motorcycle may be rented out unless the person renting it has an approved helmet in his or her possession.

Forty five thousand dollars is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Health for the purposes of the act.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

A section is added permitting the act to be known and cited as the Head Injury Prevention Act of 1990.  The terms "head injury" and "traumatic brain injury" are declared to have the same meaning within the act.

Legislative findings are expanded to note that head injury often results in long and expensive injury or disability, and that these costs are often borne by public programs such as Medicaid.

The Department of Health must consult with the Traffic Safety Commission in the identification and coordination of education programs designed to prevent head injury. 

The Department of Health requirement to evaluate education programs is replaced with permissive authority.

The requirement to wear an approved helmet is extended to include persons riding on, operating or renting mopeds.

The appropriation is increased to $49,000.

Appropriation:    $49,000 GF-S to the Department of Health

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Representative Ferguson (for); Carol Washburn, Department of Health (for); Ilene Kasten, Department of Health (for); Robin Torner, ABATE (against); Ronald Portz, ABATE (against); Lothar Pinkers, M.D., WSMA (for); Steve Lind, Washington Traffic Safety Commission (for); Leslie Sinclair, WASHIF (for); Laura Bean, WASHIF (for); Mary Stuhrman, WASHIF (for)