GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1426

Short Title:  Sports Medicine Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Diamont; Warren and Bowman.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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April 28, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR TRAINING PERSONNEL IN THE SPORTS MEDICINE AND EMERGENCY PARAMEDICAL PROGRAM.
Whereas, the General Assembly established a program of sports medicine and emergency paramedical services and emergency life saving skills in the Department of Public Education in 1979; and
Whereas, that program has resulted in the provision of 261 teacher athletic trainers serving in 231 of the 323 high schools of the State; and
Whereas, the sports medicine program works in cooperation with the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University to provide extensive classroom and laboratory training for teacher athletic trainers to lead toward certification by the National Athletic Trainers Association; and
Whereas, this certification represents the highest standard available for athletic trainers; and
Whereas, those high schools that use teacher athletic trainers have significantly reduced injury and reinjury rates in their sports programs, such that high schools without these persons have an injury rate of fifty percent (50%) and a reinjury rate of seventy-one percent (71%), but that high schools that use these trainers have an injury rate of twenty-six percent (26%) to twenty-nine percent (29%) and a reinjury rate of seven percent (7%) to nine percent (9%); and
Whereas, high schools that use teacher athletic trainers who have met national certification standards have experienced a further reduction in injuries and reinjuries; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Education $38,000 for the 1989-90 fiscal year for the purpose of providing instruction, equipment and supplies, and general administration of the sports medicine program.
Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.