HOUSE BILL REPORT
EHB 2607
As Passed House:
February 19, 2002
Title: An act relating to physical examinations by health practitioners.
Brief Description: Requiring physical examinations prior to participation in interscholastic athletic activities.
Sponsors: By Representatives McDermott, Armstrong, Ruderman, Rockefeller, Campbell, Conway, Cody, Pearson, Esser and Kenney.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Education: 2/4/02, 2/7/02 [DPA].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/19/02, 82-15.
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Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill |
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$Requires students at both the middle school and high school levels to undergo a physical examination prior to the first interscholastic athletics practice. |
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$Requires students at both the middle school and high school levels to be approved for athletic competition. |
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$Lists the types of health care professionals who may provide the physical examination.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Quall, Chair; Haigh, Vice Chair; McDermott, Rockefeller, Santos, Schmidt and Upthegrove.
Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 4 members: Representatives Talcott, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Cox and Schindler.
Staff: Ilene Miller (786‑7310).
Background:
Each school district board of directors is given the authority to control, supervise and regulate interschool athletic activities, and interschool extracurricular activities that are by nature athletic, cultural, social or recreational. The board of directors is also given the authority to delegate the control, supervision and regulation of these activities to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) or any other voluntary nonprofit entity. The WIAA is comprised of member schools from both the middle school and high school levels. All member schools have agreed to abide by the WIAA=s policies. The WIAA has established policies that require students wishing to participate in school athletics to have a physical examination prior to the first practice.
Summary of Engrossed Bill:
Students at both the middle school and high school levels must undergo a thorough physical examination prior to participating in interscholastic athletics. Additionally, students must be specifically approved for athletic competition. The physical examination must be performed by a licensed physician, osteopathic physician, physician=s assistant, chiropractor, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, naturopathic physician, or other health care professional acting within the scope of his or her license.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not Requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Chiropractors receive extensive training in order to become a licensed chiropractor. A lot of classroom time is spent understanding how the body functions as a whole. Chiropractors see patients for physical examinations on a daily basis and should be allowed to perform physicals for high school level student athletes.
Testimony Against: Chiropractors focus on the treatment of the spine, vertebrae and joints. The focus of a physical examination for a student athlete is different as it includes a much broader scope. It needs to include cardio-pulmonary history as well. A chiropractic exam is just not inclusive enough to deal with all of the systems in a student's body and all of the issues that might arise during the exam.
Testified: (In support) Representative McDermott, prime sponsor; Lori Bielinski, Washington State Chiropractic Association; Randy Dreessen, Chiropractor; and Doug Nordstrom, Chiropractor.
(Opposed) John Olson, Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.