(a) If funding is made available for this purpose, the Legislature requests the University of California to design a study and conduct a representative sampling of pupil injuries from participation in high school athletic events over a period of three school years commencing with the 2000–01 school year. It is further the intent of the Legislature that the University of California consult with the State Board of Education and the State Department of Education regarding the design of the study and regarding the university’s procedure for ensuring the success of the project. The data shall be compiled and analyzed so as to permit valid conclusions to be drawn and recommendations to be made regarding, at a minimum, all of the following:

(1) The actual statewide frequency of injuries and reinjuries.

(2) Methods for creating intervention programs to decrease the incidence of injuries.

(3) The number and extent of training of primary health personnel responsible for the care of athletes at the high schools.

(4) Possible methods for decreasing health care costs due to improper evaluation and care of athletic injuries.

(5) Identifying risk factors for high school athletes including factors relating to the severity of injuries, the immediate evaluation, care, and treatment of injuries, and the time loss associated with injuries.

(6) Recommended programs, policies, and procedures designed to provide long-term solutions for preventing injuries to high school athletes.

(7) Developing an athletic safety plan, including, but not limited to, written safety standards of care for high school athletes.

(b) The completed project, including an executive summary, key findings, conclusions, and recommendations, shall be disseminated to all public high schools in the state, and shall be submitted to the Legislature and the State Board of Education by December 1, 2003.

(c) The annual General Fund costs of the program shall not exceed seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000).

(d) This section shall apply to the University of California only if its participation is approved by resolution of the Regents of the University of California.

(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 940, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999.)