Two Student Concussion-Protection Measures Advance

The New Jersey Senate advanced two measures Thursday to help protect student athletes from the effects of concussions.

The first is a resolution urging the state's school districts to adopt a cognitive testing program that would help measure post-injury conditions of athletes and cheerleaders who sustain concussions.

The districts are being asked to complete baseline or pre-season cognitive tests of athletes that would serve as pre-injury measures if a student suffers a concussion.

The second requires the Department of Education to include cheerleaders in the student-athlete head injury safety program.

It passed the Senate unanimously on Thursday, and now heads to the governor's desk for a signature.

The Assembly also passed the measure unanimously, in June.