School districts implement changes to SB80 concussion law

Stella Thornton (left) watches as Governor Joe Lombardo (seated) signs SB80 during the bill’s ceremonial signing Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Carson City.
Carly Sauvageau/The Nevada Independent

Nevada school districts have begun implementing policy changes in how they address head injuries and concussions among students, based on Senate Bill 80, which was signed into law last year.

The Carson City and Lyon County school district boards discussed updates to support the Nevada Department of Education (NDE) and Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Association (NIAA) “Return to Learn” recommendations during their respective meetings on June 25 to formalize plans to support student-athletes who sustain a traumatic brain injury during games.

Bill sponsor Stella Thornton, a Carson High School graduate and member of Nevada’s youth legislature, initiated the changes with her proposal as a student and ensured that her bill was passed and signed by Governor Joe Lombardo in June 2023.

During the CCSD Board of Trustees meeting on June 25, Carson City Superintendent Andrew Feuling described Thornton’s academic and legislative process for identifying medical and university resources for her research.

“It was quite an educational experience,” Feuling said. “They have this wonderful idea and everyone with all these interests is following it. I know it was an intense process for them, but ultimately their bill passed.”

Sheila Story, chief nursing officer at CCSD, said the language requires signatures on a form provided by the NIAA acknowledging the risks to students associated with sports or events, and stressed the need for training for school staff to care for the academic or physical health of a student who has suffered a head injury.

Lyon County School District Board members also met on June 25 and approved changes to the JB – Head Injury policy to comply with SB80. Trustees endorsed the NDE and NIAA recommendations and received support through public comment. The Esmeralda County School District Board in southern Nevada also gave a first reading of a concussion policy on June 25. The three-school district offers basketball as its only athletic program.

“In all my years as a youth sports coach, I have found that head injuries are always one of the biggest concerns – especially in youth football and soccer, so it is a big deal that this topic is now being included in the policy,” said Lyons Trustee Neal McIntyre II.

Thornton now attends the University of Nevada, Reno, still working in the neuromechanics lab there with Dr. Nicholas Murray, who mentored her in drafting the bill and working with lawmakers.

“I continued to work on many of the policies and procedures that were put in place after SB80 was passed with Dr. Murray, who helped me with the process, and the concept of allowing school districts to decide whether or not they wanted to use them,” Thornton told the Appeal. “I never wanted to just pass the law and leave (teachers and students) to figure out for themselves why I wanted the law. We never wanted to be an additional burden, but we wanted to make sure that the health and education of these children was the first priority.”

Thornton continues to stay in touch with Carson High athletic trainer Adam Hunsaker regarding on-campus activities.

“It’s nice to hear stories from teachers and athletic trainers who have told me that they are seeing more kids in their practices that they would never have seen otherwise,” Thornton told the Appeal on Wednesday. “I know Adam and I were talking recently at Carson High School about how he is seeing more kids that he wouldn’t have seen otherwise and helping them more. I think that’s great. It’s important that they get the medical care that they deserve.”

Looking back on the legislative process as a former student and youth legislator, Thornton said she was grateful for the support of Feuling and the Carson High staff, among others.

“I really appreciated him taking the time to understand what he was working with and using his time to support a student in a huge school district and make this happen,” she said. “It’s incredible. It shows the power the superintendent has in the district he works for and how he can make it better for all the kids.”