An Act concerning the education of students with a traumatic brain injury and supplementing chapter 46 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. The Commissioner of Education shall appoint a Traumatic Brain Injury Education Coordinator The coordinator shall be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office. The coordinator shall be responsible for evaluating, coordinating, and developing local, county, regional, and State educational programs and services for students with a traumatic brain injury. It shall be the duty of the coordinator to:

(1) establish a comprehensive, Statewide network of Regional Traumatic Brain Injury Consultants to aid school districts in meeting the needs of students with traumatic brain injuries;

(2) develop a methodology for the systematic identification, assessment, and intervention of students with a traumatic brain injury;

(3) develop and implement an annual training plan that builds the capacity of school districts to effectively support students with traumatic brain injuries;

(4) develop a hospital-to-school transition protocol for the return to the classroom of students with a traumatic brain injury;

(5) develop a model policy for the return to the classroom of students with concussions; and

(6) develop a mechanism to collect data on the incidence of traumatic brain injuries in children.

b. The commissioner shall appoint a Regional Traumatic Brain Injury Consultant for each of the northwest, northeast, central, and southern regions of the State. Each consultant shall report to the Traumatic Brain Injury Education Coordinator appointed pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

It shall be the duty of a regional consultant to:

(1) provide coordination, training, and technical assistance to school districts in the region including, but not limited to, technical assistance to child study teams in the evaluation, placement, and development of individualized education programs or 504 accommodation plans for students with a traumatic brain injury;

(2) aid school districts in developing a brain injury resource team that includes a designated staff person who serves as the first point of contact for students with traumatic brain injuries and their families;

(3) conduct outreach in the region to identify and address issues related to children with traumatic brain injuries;

(4) assist the coordinator in the development of an annual training plan, hospital-to-school transition protocol, and model policy required pursuant to paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of subsection a. of this section; and

(5) develop an integrated system of school, health care, and community supports for school-aged children with a traumatic brain injury, ensuring the progress of students towards the achievement of post-secondary goals.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to appoint a Traumatic Brain Injury Education Coordinator. The coordinator will be responsible for evaluating, coordinating, and developing local, county, regional, and State educational programs and services for students with a traumatic brain injury. Under the bill, it will be the duty of the coordinator to:

(1) establish a comprehensive, Statewide network of Regional Traumatic Brain Injury Consultants to aid school districts in meeting the needs of students with traumatic brain injuries;

(2) develop a methodology for the systematic identification, assessment, and intervention of students with a traumatic brain injury;

(3) develop and implement an annual training plan that builds the capacity of school districts to effectively support students with traumatic brain injuries;

(4) develop a hospital-to-school transition protocol for the return to the classroom of students with a traumatic brain injury;

(5) develop a model policy for the return to the classroom of students with concussions; and

(6) develop a mechanism to collect data on the incidence of traumatic brain injuries in children.

The bill also directs the commissioner to appoint a Regional Traumatic Brain Injury Consultant for each of the northwest, northeast, central, and southern regions of the State. The consultant will:

(1) provide coordination, training, and technical assistance to school districts in the region;

(2) aid school districts in developing a brain injury resource team;

(3) conduct outreach in the region to identify and address issues related to children with traumatic brain injuries;

(4) assist the coordinator in the development of an annual training plan, hospital-to-school transition protocol, and model policy for students with concussions; and

(5) develop an integrated system of school, health care, and community supports for school-aged children with a traumatic brain injury.