Sen. Rod Tam (D-Nuuanu), co-chairman of the Education Committee, announced he is resurrecting the trainers' proposal, which died in committee this session, "because it's a mistake not to fund something that's a matter of safety and health."

Trainers are university-educated and nationally certified to deal with medical emergencies that occur at practice and at games.

There have been 15 temporary athletic trainers assigned to schools on Oahu and the neighbor islands since 1993. When former Gov. Waihee signed the bill authorizing those trainers, it was agreed that the Legislature would add more each year until all 39 schools had one.

But there has been no action to fund any more trainers, or "athletic medical specialists," as Tam calls them, since that time.

Tam's new plan delighted McKinley High School athletic director Neal Takamori, an ardent lobbyist for the trainers bill this year.

"If he can pull it off - great," said Takamori.

"For the cost of one lawsuit, you could almost fund all of the trainers."

Takamori's school, which now has one of the 15 certified trainers, did not have one several years ago when it was sued by the family of a football player paralyzed in a practice.

An out-of-court settlement reportedly cost the state nearly $1 million in that one. Another sports injury suit is now pending against Kapaa High School, which has no certified trainer.

Each trainer is paid an annual $32,000 salary. For all 39, the cost would be about $1.2 million.

Referring to the recent demise of trainers bills in Senate and House committees, Tam said, "There's no reason why we can't make corrections when we do something wrong. I teach my kids to say they're sorry. There's nothing wrong with adults saying that."

Asked how he thinks Gov. Cayetano will react to the trainers' proposal, Tam said, "I think he'll go for it because this governor is very compassionate."

Tam said he is "counting on grass roots support" for the proposal to include trainers in the education budget. He said he will be appealing to parents of young athletes in the schools to support the legislation.