SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6190

BYSenate Committee on Health & Long Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators 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)

                  March 2, 1990

House Committe on Health Care

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

AS PASSED SENATE, JANUARY 29, 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:

The act is 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.

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 may 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, motor-driven cycles or mopeds on a state highway, county road, or city street unless wearing a protective helmet approved by the State Patrol.

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

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

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

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

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)

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

The requirement that 15 percent to 20 percent of grants for head injury prevention efforts be expended on evaluation is deleted.

The Department of Health's authority to establish a statewide trauma registry to compile information on head injuries is upgraded to a requirement.

The Department of Health is required to prepare guidelines on relevant training and education regarding traumatic brain injury for relevant public safety and law enforcement officials.

All emergency medical personnel must be trained in proper helmet removal.

Persons operating motor-driven cycles, automobiles licensed as motorcycles or vehicles equipped with approved seat belts and roll bars are exempt from the requirement to wear helmets.

The fund source for the appropriation contained in the bill is changed from the general fund to the public safety and education account.