State Senate urged to take head injury bill seriously
MADISON - Former Packers’ offensive lineman Mark Tauscher says there used to be a stigma against pros who didn’t keep playing after taking big hits to the head.
Tauscher joined doctors, patients, an NFL lobbyist, and lawmakers at a State Capitol news conference. They urged the Wisconsin Senate to get going and pass a bill that deals with serious head injuries suffered by youth athletes in organized sports.
The state Assembly has passed the bill, but it’s been bottled up in the Senate and it will die unless it passes by March 15th when the legislative session is due to adjourn for the year. Richland Center High School senior Brock Rosenkranz told reporters he had to stop playing football and basketball after getting at least 10 concussions over three years. He said quote, “People just don’t really get this problem.”
The bill requires coaches to remove young athletes at the first sign of a head injury or concussion and they could not return until they’re checked and cleared by health care personnel. The state would join the WIAA in developing guidelines and educating coaches, athletes, and parents about them. An alternative plan would make those policies optional and individual school districts would not have to adopt them. But Senate Republican Alberta Darling of River Hills says a mandate is necessary to protect kids and teens.