Last Week in Local Politics

Here's some news you may have missed out of the state Legislature last week:

Neuman introduces legislation

State Rep. Brandon Neuman, D-North Strabane is introducing legislation that would help medical professionals and coaches accurately assess whether a high school student has suffered a concussion.

"Athletes and their coaches may not realize that an injury, however minor it may seem, caused a concussion. Most kids want to keep playing, so they shake it off and return to the field," Neuman, who wrestled and played baseball and football at Canon-McMillan High School, said. "My bill would require each high school student athlete to receive a baseline concussion screening at the start of the season so if an injury does occur, we know what the athlete's normal brain function should be and can accurately determine if they have a concussion and when they are ready to return to play."

Neuman said each student would be administered the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing program, which measures baseline brain function.

This screening would be done in conjunction with the annual physical each student athlete is required to undergo prior to be eligible to participate in Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association-sanctioned sports. 

His bill would further require an athlete that suffers a head injury or exhibits signs of a concussion at any time during the season to be removed from play immediately in order to be administered the test again. 

The test, administered by a medical professional or coach, would be assessed as soon as possible to indicate what, if any, cognitive damage the child has incurred in such areas as memory, reaction time and processing speed. 

"People are starting to pay attention to this issue, but unfortunately the number of concussion injuries continues to grow," Neuman said. "My legislation would provide a more effective way to keep athletes safe during games and practice, and I think it's something every lawmaker, teacher and parent should support." 

White elected vice chairman of Southwest Caucus

State Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil Township, has been elected by his peers to serve as vice chairman of the Southwest Caucus, which encompasses an 11-county region of Pennsylvania.

As vice chairman, White will work with caucus Chairman Gary Haluska, D-Cambria, to develop the caucus' agenda, and shaping policy and legislation that specifically impacts southwest Pennsylvania residents.

"The southwest region has been the first to experience the transformations associated with the natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, and with that brings a variety of environmental, economic and business development issues that will need to be vetted and addressed legislatively," White said. "I expect we will be extremely busy over the course of the session and am excited to draw upon my experiences in representing my district as I gain a greater voice in setting the policy agenda statewide."

The Southwest Caucus is made up of the Democratic House members whose districts are in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

White has also been appointed to serve on the House Judiciary, Consumer Affairs, Labor Relations, and Aging and Older Adult Services committees for the 2011-12 legislative session.

Neuman to serve on junvenile supervision board; appointed SW caucus treasurer 

Neuman was appointed last week to the State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision for the 2011-12 legislative session by House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody.

The council is part of the Interstate Compact for Juveniles, which creates a national governing commission for juveniles in all states and establishes a uniform system for reporting, collecting and exchanging data related to its mission.

Neuman has also been named treasurer of the Southwest Caucus by Chairman Gary Haluska, D-Cambria.

The Southwest Caucus is made up of the Democratic House members whose districts are in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Neuman was also appointed to serve on the Aging and Older Adult Services, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Consumer Affairs committees for the 2011-12 legislative session.