CATA Governmental Affairs

CATA Legislative Train is a Rollin!

CATA Members, I am happy to report that we have activity again on the legislative front. Assembly Member Mary Hayashi has agreed to author the Sports Injury Prevention Act – AB1647. This Bill is a comprehensive Athlete Safety bill that will protect high school athletes in four ways:

1. It will mandate that all high schools that offer athletics must have an AED on site and available at all practices and athletic contests.
2. The state will adopt the heat acclimatization guidelines established by the NATA for Fall sports.
3. If an athlete has been identified as having a concussion, the athlete must be removed immediately from competition and will not be allowed to return to play unless evaluated and released by a physician or an athletic trainer working under the direction of a physician
4. No one may hold themselves out as an athletic trainer unless they have completed the educational requirements and passed the BOC exam.

This bill is significant in many ways. First, it positions the CATA and its members as leaders in protecting young athletes from catastrophic injury. Second, if fully adopted, many California lives will be saved. Lastly, the athletic training profession will be recognized by the state as a bona fide member of the medical community. Though it is not licensure like we have been pursuing, it is a significant step towards a state guarantee of competence.

We begin this legislative push with momentum like we have never seen before. In the last two years, over 120 deaths have occurred nationwide to from athletes participating in sports with 18 of those in California. A few weeks ago, the NATA hosted the Summit on Youth Sports Safety in America in Sacramento. It was a great event with a great crowd a lot of media and some great speakers. To learn more about the Summit and the Youth Sports Safety Alliance, please go to the website at www.youthsportssafetyalliance.org. The site is still in development but there are many resources there already. For more pictures, go to the NATA Website and the Photozone link at http://nata.smugmug.com/NATA-Events/Summit-on-the-Youth-Sports/10944830_iJmDu#770593810_cQxbo

This event catapulted other Assembly and Senate members of the State legislature to jump on board the train.

At a press conference held on Wednesday, January 27th, Assembly Member Hayashi along with Assembly Members Hill, Buchanan, Davis, Saldana, Ammiano, and Senator Strickland introduced AB1647 and AB1646. AB1646 is a coaches education bill. It would mandate that coaches get trained regularly in the signs and symptoms of concussions along with other catastrophic injuries. These bills are just two of many similar bills being introduced around the country in an effort to address athlete safety.

Help is always needed

Soon, we will be asking our members to begin writing letters of support for these bills as well as getting letters from others in your community: physicians, parents, coaches, celebrities….. You name it, we want a letter from them. Soon, we will have sample letters for members to use on the CATA website.

We are also planning our Second Annual CATA Hit the Hill day. It is currently scheduled for March 23rd, starting at 7:30 am. We had a very good turn out last year and our goal is to more than double the participation this year. Please make plans to join us at the capitol for this exciting event. More details will be forthcoming.

There are a tremendous number of people I would like to thank for helping us get into the position we are in today. First of all, the CATA managing board and committee chairs and most particularly, Rory Natividad, Governmental Affairs Chair. Mike Chisar, the Far West Governmental Affairs Chair has been instrumental and indispensible in our background work. Our Lobbyists Terry McHale and Pat Moran. Our Public Relations firm including Jean Walcher and Jacquie Edelman. The NATA Governmental Affairs Committee Chaired by Eric McDonnell. And last but certainly not least, the NATA and in particular Judy Pulice in Governmental Relations and Ellen Satlof in Public Relations along with Robin Waxenberg with the NATA’s Public Relations firm.

Though we have a tremendous amount of momentum, the work is not yet done. If history has taught me anything it’s that we have many hurdles to jump and obstacles to overcome. However I am as optimistic as I have ever been that we will see success and I know that you, as a CATA member will assist us in this Youth Sports Safety effort. Please keep watch for further details.

California Athletic Trainers:
Fighting to be Defined!

Rory Natividad

Rio Hondo College
Division Dean/Athletic Director
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
(562) 908-3457
(626) 824-8367 (c)
((310)978-0688 (H)
(562) 908-3468 (fax)
rory.natividad@riohondo.edu