,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dade ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,august #b1 #bjai,mr4 ,smith of ,new ,jersey 7for himself and ,mr4 ,gottheimer7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to establish a commission to prevent exertional heat stroke deaths among high school and collegiate athletes1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,braeden's ,commission3 ,protect our ,athletes from ,exertional ,heat ,stroke4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,deaths from exertional heat stroke are preventable4 7#b7 ,exertional heat stroke is one of the leading noncontact causes of death of young athletes4 7#c7 ,according to the #bjah ,national ,center for ,catastrophic ,sport ,injury ,research's annual survey of football injuries1 since #aiie1 there have been #fd exertional heat stroke deaths in the sport of football alone1 and #fj of these occurred at the high school and collegiate levels4 7#d7 ,protective measures such as proper hydration1 acclimatization prior to intense physical activity1 and rapid recognition1 rapid assessment1 rapid treatment1 and rapid advanced care can prevent exertional heat stroke deaths or hospitalizations provided that the protective measures are implemented immediately when warranted4 #c4 ,establishment of commission 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established the ,commission to ,prevent ,heat ,stroke ,deaths 7in this ,act referred to as ,braeden's ,commission74 7b7 ,,faca ,braeden's ,commission shall be subject to the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app471 except as inconsistent with this ,act4 #d4 ,membership 7a7 ,number and appointment ,braeden's ,commission shall be composed of #ab members1 consisting of-- 7#a7 #f members appointed by the ,president2 7#b7 #b members appointed by the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives2 7#c7 #a member appointed by the minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives2 7#d7 #b members appointed by the majority leader of the ,senate2 and 7#e7 #a member appointed by the minority leader of the ,senate4 7b7 ,qualifications ,each member appointed pursuant to subsection 7a7 shall have experience in one or more of the following areas3 7#a7 ,sports medicine4 7#b7 ,exertional heat stroke prevention4 7#c7 ,student athlete health research4 7#d7 ,legislation1 including legislation involving sports medicine4 7#e7 ,emergency medicine4 7#f7 ,pediatrics4 7#g7 ,psychology and mental health4 7#h7 ,forensic pathology or medical investigation involving injury or fatality4 7#i7 ,professional experience at an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a771 with a focus on one or more of the other areas listed in this subsection4 7c7 ,diversity of qualifications ,in making appointments to ,braeden's ,commission under subsection 7a71 the ,president and the congressional leaders specified in subsection 7a7 shall strive to select individuals whose qualifications 7as described under subsection 7b77 are not already represented by other members of ,braeden's ,commission4 7d7 ,appointments ,the appointments of the members of ,braeden's ,commission shall be made not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7e7 ,period of appointments2 vacancies ,each member shall be appointed for the life of ,braeden's ,commission4 ,any vacancy in ,braeden's ,commission shall not affect its powers and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment4 7f7 ,chairperson ,the ,president shall select a ,chairperson for ,braeden's ,commission from among its members4 #e4 ,meetings 7a7 ,initial meeting ,not later than #fj days after the date on which a majority of the members of ,braeden's ,commission have been appointed1 ,braeden's ,commission shall hold its first meeting4 7b7 ,timing ,braeden's ,commission shall meet at the call of the ,chairperson4 7c7 ,quorum ,a majority of the members of ,braeden's ,commission shall constitute a quorum4 #f4 ,study 7a7 ,in general ,braeden's ,commission shall conduct a study on exertional heat stroke among student athletes at educational institutions across the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,matters ,to be studied ,in conducting the study under subsection 7a71 ,braeden's ,commission shall study-- 7#a7 best practices for prevention1 recognition1 and treatment of exertional heat stroke1 as regarded by leading experts in sports medicine and as detailed in the #bjae ,national ,athletic ,trainers' ,association ,position ,statement on ,exertional ,heat ,illness2 7#b7 educational institution standards for prevention1 recognition1 and treatment of exertional heat stroke and related illnesses2 7#c7 whether athletic trainers and coaches have been properly trained to recognize and treat cases of exertional heat stroke2 7#d7 cases involving student athlete deaths and hospitalizations due to exertional heat stroke1 including whether best practices were followed in such cases by the educational institution involved2 7#e7 which organizations currently oversee the implementation of best practices on exertional heat stroke at educational institutions2 7#f7 emergency action plans in place at educational institutions and whether such action plans are up-to-date or developed in consultation with local emergency medical staff2 7#g7 the scope of all incidents of exertional heat stroke among student athletes1 including determining which educational institutions are following best practices where such incidents occurred2 7#h7 the effectiveness of ,federal1 ,state1 and local policies and systems aimed at collecting accurate data on exertional heat stroke fatalities1 including the identification of the most effective and least effective policies and systems2 7#i7 current barriers to preventing fatalities from exertional heat stroke and methods to overcome such barriers among student athletes2 7#aj7 demographic trends or specific risk factors that are predictive of or correlated with student athlete exertional heat stroke and related illnesses such as heat exhaustion2 7#aa7 methods for improving data collection related to exertional heat stroke1 such as methods to increase interoperability between ,state and local data systems or other data systems used to collect information that may be related to exertional heat stroke2 7#ab7 current research and documentation1 including those currently being conducted by graduate and doctoral students2 7#ac7 recommendations from the ,national ,athletic ,trainers' ,association's position statements pertaining to heat illnesses and emergency planning in athletics2 and 7#ad7 recommendations with respect to best practices for preventing exertional heat stroke from the ,inter-,association ,task ,force for ,preventing ,sudden ,death in ,collegiate ,conditioning ,sessions4 #g4 ,recommendations and report 7a7 ,recommendations ,based on the study conducted under section #f1 ,braeden's ,commission shall-- 7#a7 develop recommendations for the purpose of reducing fatalities from exertional heat stroke among student athletes1 including-- 7,a7 a recommendation to implement a comprehensive national strategy for such purpose2 and 7,b7 lessons1 solutions1 and necessary improvements related to such purpose2 and 7#b7 develop guidelines for tracking certain types of information to prevent fatalities from exertional heat stroke among student athletes4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date on which a majority of the members of ,braeden's ,commission have been appointed1 ,braeden's ,commission shall submit to the ,president and ,congress a report containing-- 7#a7 the recommendations required under subsection 7a72 7#b7 a detailed statement of the findings of ,braeden's ,commission related to the study conducted under section #f2 and 7#c7 recommendations for legislation and administrative actions related to exertional heat stroke among student athletes at educational institutions4 7c7 ,extension ,the ,president may extend the date on which the report required by subsection 7b7 must be submitted by not more than #a year4 7d7 ,publication ,in coordination with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 ,braeden's ,commission shall make the report under subsection 7b7 publicly available on the website of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 #h4 ,powers of ,braeden's ,commission 7a7 ,hearings 7#a7 ,in general ,braeden's ,commission may1 for the purpose of carrying out this ,act1 hold hearings1 sit and act at times and places1 take testimony1 and receive evidence as ,braeden's ,commission considers appropriate4 ,braeden's ,commission may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it4 7#b7 ,location ,the location of hearings under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 areas with high fatality rates related to exertional heat stroke among student athletes2 and 7,b7 areas that have shown a decrease in fatalities from exertional heat stroke among student athletes4 7#c7 ,subject ,braeden's ,commission shall hold hearings under paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 to examine the ,federal1 ,state1 and local policies and available resources that affect fatalities from exertional heat stroke among student athletes2 and 7,b7 to conduct other work related to the study required under section #f4 7b7 ,obtaining official data ,braeden's ,commission may secure directly from any ,federal agency or department information necessary to enable it to carry out this ,act4 ,upon request of the ,chairperson of ,braeden's ,commission1 the head of that ,federal agency or department shall furnish that information to ,braeden's ,commission4 7c7 ,mails ,braeden's ,commission may use the ,united ,states mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other ,federal agencies and departments4 7d7 ,gifts1 bequests1 and devises ,to the extent or in the amounts made available in advance in appropriations ,acts1 ,braeden's ,commission may accept1 use1 and dispose of gifts1 bequests1 or devises of services or property1 both real and personal1 for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of ,braeden's ,commission4 #i4 ,commission personnel matters 7a7 ,director and staff of ,commission 7#a7 ,executive ,director ,braeden's ,commission shall have an ,executive ,director who shall be appointed by the ,chairperson4 7#b7 ,staff ,with the approval of ,braeden's ,commission1 the ,chairperson may appoint additional personnel as the ,chairperson considers appropriate4 7#c7 ,termination ,the ,chairperson of ,braeden's ,commission may1 without regard to the civil service laws and regulations1 terminate the ,executive ,director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable ,braeden's ,commission to perform its duties4 7#d7 ,compensation 7,a7 ,rate of pay for the ,executive ,director ,the ,chairperson of ,braeden's ,commission may fix the pay of the ,executive ,director of ,braeden's ,commission without regard to chapter #ea and subchapter ,,iii of chapter #ec of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 relating to classification of positions and ,general ,schedule pay rates1 except that the rate of pay for the ,executive ,director may not exceed the rate payable for level ,v of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecaf of such title4 7,b7 ,rate of pay for staff ,the ,chairperson of ,braeden's ,commission may fix the pay of additional personnel at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay for ,,gs-#ae of the ,general ,schedule4 7b7 ,travel expenses ,the members of ,braeden's ,commission shall receive travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7c7 ,staff of ,federal agencies ,upon request of ,braeden's ,commission1 the head of any ,federal agency or department may detail1 without reimbursement1 any of the personnel of that agency or department to ,braeden's ,commission to assist in carrying out this ,act4 ,such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege4 7d7 ,experts and consultants ,with the approval of ,braeden's ,commission1 the ,chairperson may procure temporary and intermittent services under section #caji7;b7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 but at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay for ,,gs-#ae of the ,general ,schedule4 #aj4 ,termination of ,braeden's ,commission ,braeden's ,commission shall terminate on the earlier of-- 7#a7 #cj days after the date on which ,braeden's ,commission submits its report pursuant to section #g7;b72 or 7#b7 the date that is #c years after the initial meeting under section #e7;a74 #aa4 ,federal agency response ,not later than #f months after the submission to the ,president of the report required under section #g7;b71 any ,federal agency or department that is subject to a recommendation described in the report shall submit to ,congress a report containing the plans of such agency or department to address the recommendation4 #ab4 ,definition ,as used in this ,act1 the term educational institution means-- 7#a7 a public or private school that serves any of grades #i through #ab2 and 7#b7 an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a774