The Safety in Youth Sports Act (SB 200) fell just a few days short of a vote in the House of Representatives before the legislature adjourned for the summer. The bill passed all of the committees, and the final floor vote, in the Senate without any dissenting votes. In the House, it passed the Education and Appropriations Committees, also without any negative votes. It was scheduled for its second consideration in the House but time ran out. The bill will pick up where it left off when the House returns to session in September.

Meanwhile, the Pa. Brain Injury Coalition is working on recommendations on brain injury screening in state programs and facilities. The numbers are huge, when considering the number of people who are in our prisons or jails who have undiagnosed brain injury. This is also true for people who are receiving services in a number of other populations. The Coalition is working on developing recommended action (both legislative and policy) that will initiate screening of persons in these populations for brain injury. In addition suggestions for approaching the issues presented by these persons are being developed.

How you can help:  Contact your legislators
You can support the efforts of the Coalition by contacting your legislators and encouraging them to support the efforts of the Pennsylvania Brain Injury Coalition to form caucuses.  You can find out who your legislators are, and how to contact then at  http://www.legis.state.pa.us/