SENATE MEMORIAL 128

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND FEASIBILITY OF EMPLOYING ATHLETIC TRAINERS IN NEW MEXICO SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

 

     WHEREAS, the Athletic Trainer Practice Act defines an athletic trainer as a person who, with the advice and consent of a licensed physician, practices the treatment, prevention, care and rehabilitation of injuries incurred by athletes; and

     WHEREAS, the practice of athletic training includes the prevention, care and rehabilitation of athletes' injuries; and

     WHEREAS, athletic trainers could provide valuable services to secondary schools, by helping to ensure that student athletes are properly cared for and have a safe environment to participate in athletics; and

     WHEREAS, athletic trainers can help reduce the incidence and severity of student injuries; and

     WHEREAS, athletic trainers also may provide significant cost savings and reduce time loss for parents who must be away from home or work to care for their injured child; and

     WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to study the economic impacts and other factors of employing athletic trainers in secondary schools;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be requested to convene a task force to study the economic impact and feasibility of employing athletic trainers in New Mexico secondary schools; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to study the fiscal impact of whether there is a cost savings by employing athletic trainers to:

          A. secondary schools or the school districts;

          B. the state, with sixty percent of New Mexico's population using medicaid, a large percentage of whom are represented in the kindergarten through grade twelve setting;

          C. the parents or guardians of students enrolled in secondary schools;

          D. parents who must take time off work to take their children to receive medical services when an athletic trainer is not employed by the school;

          E. student athletes with the potential for fewer missed games and practices through diagnosis, treatment and the referral process of athletic trainers; and

          F. school districts for potential reductions in insurance costs based on the standard prevention protocols that the athletic trainer manages and provides; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force consider whether appropriate referrals by an athletic trainer to other health care services could avoid undue stress on emergency health care services or unnecessary medical costs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force consider the impact on the amount of time lost in the classroom due to students seeking health care services off-site when there is no athletic trainer employed by a school; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of representatives of the public education department, the department of health, the human services department, the office of superintendent of insurance, the athletic trainer practice board of the regulation and licensing department, the New Mexico athletic trainers' association and the New Mexico activities association; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to report its findings and recommendations to the legislative finance committee by October 1, 2019; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education, the secretary of health, the secretary of human services, the superintendent of insurance, the superintendent of regulation and licensing, the president of the New Mexico athletic trainers' association and the board chair of the New Mexico activities association.

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