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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill enacts the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ defines terms;
13 ▸ requires the State Board of Education to establish standards and guidelines to help
14 prevent sudden cardiac arrest related to athletic activities;
15 ▸ requires local education agencies to:
16 • provide information to students and parents about sudden cardiac arrest;
17 • receive confirmation that a student and the student's parent have read the
18 information about sudden cardiac arrest before allowing the student to
19 participate in athletic activities;
20 • establish sudden cardiac arrest training for coaches; and
21 • require a coach to complete sudden cardiac arrest training every two years;
22 ▸ requires a coach to remove from a game or prevent from playing in the game a
23 student who exhibits signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest; and
24 ▸ addresses liability.
25 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
26 None
27 Other Special Clauses:
28 None
29 Utah Code Sections Affected:
30 ENACTS:
31 53A-11-1701, Utah Code Annotated 1953
32 53A-11-1702, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33 53A-11-1703, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34 53A-11-1704, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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36 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
37 Section 1. Section 53A-11-1701 is enacted to read:
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39 53A-11-1701. Definitions.
40 As used in this part:
41 (1) "Athletic activity" means:
42 (a) an interscholastic activity of athletic teams;
43 (b) an athletic contest or competition, other than an interscholastic activity of athletic
44 teams, that is sponsored by or associated with a school, including:
45 (i) cheerleading;
46 (ii) a club-sponsored sport activity; or
47 (iii) a sport activity sponsored by a school-affiliated organization;
48 (c) noncompetitive cheerleading that is sponsored by or associated with a school entity;
49 and
50 (d) a practice, an interschool practice, or a scrimmage for an activity described in
51 Subsection (1)(a), (b), or (c).
52 (2) "Athletic trainer" means the same as that term is defined in Section 58-40a-102.
53 (3) "Authorized individual" means:
54 (a) a coach of a student who participates in an athletic activity; or
55 (b) another official designated by the school of a student who participates in an athletic
56 activity, including an athletic trainer or a qualified health care provider.
57 (4) "Interscholastic activity" means an activity within the state in which a student that
58 participates represents a school in the activity.
59 (5) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means:
60 (a) a school district; or
61 (b) a charter school governing board.
62 (6) "Qualified health care provider" means a health care provider who:
63 (a) is licensed under Title 58, Occupations and Professions; and
64 (b) may evaluate and manage sudden cardiac arrest within the health care provider's
65 scope of practice.
66 (7) "School" means a public elementary or secondary school.
67 (8) "Sudden cardiac arrest" means a life-threatening condition that results when an
68 individual's heart stops or fails to produce a pulse.
69 Section 2. Section 53A-11-1702 is enacted to read:
70 53A-11-1702. Educational materials.
71 (1) (a) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health,
72 shall develop standards and guidelines to assist an LEA to comply with Subsection (2).
73 (b) The standards and guidelines described in Subsection (1)(a) shall address:
74 (i) the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest;
75 (ii) risks associated with engaging in athletic activity after experiencing one or more
76 symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest, including:
77 (A) fainting;
78 (B) difficulty breathing;
79 (C) chest pains;
80 (D) dizziness;
81 (E) abnormal racing heart rate; or
82 (F) extreme fatigue; and
83 (iii) procedures for assisting students experiencing cardiac arrest.
84 (2) An LEA shall:
85 (a) develop an informational sheet for students and parents or guardians of students
86 that includes:
87 (i) the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest; and
88 (ii) risks associated with engaging in athletic activity after experiencing one or more
89 symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest;
90 (b) prohibit a student from participating in an athletic activity unless the student and
91 the student's parent or guardian:
92 (i) review the informational sheet described in Subsection (2)(a); and
93 (ii) sign and return to the student's school a statement acknowledging that the student
94 and the student's parent or guardian have reviewed the informational sheet described in
95 Subsection (2)(a);
96 (c) establish training to educate coaches on:
97 (i) the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest;
98 (ii) risks associated with engaging in athletic activity after experiencing one or more
99 symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest; and
100 (iii) procedures for assisting a student experiencing sudden cardiac arrest; and
101 (d) require a coach to complete the training described in Subsection (2)(c) once every
102 two years.
103 (3) (a) An LEA may hold an informational meeting before the start of each athletic
104 season regarding the symptoms and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest.
105 (b) To assist in the informational meeting described in Subsection (3)(a), an LEA may:
106 (i) use informational or training material from a nonprofit organization or an entity
107 approved by the State Board of Education; and
108 (ii) invite health care providers or athletic trainers to participate.
109 Section 3. Section 53A-11-1703 is enacted to read:
110 53A-11-1703. Preventing at-risk students from participating in an athletic
111 activity.
112 (1) If an authorized individual determines that a student exhibits a sign or symptom of
113 sudden cardiac arrest while participating in an athletic activity, the student's coach shall
114 immediately remove the student from participation in the athletic activity.
115 (2) If an authorized individual determines that a student exhibits a sign or symptom of
116 sudden cardiac arrest at any time before or following an athletic activity, the student's coach
117 shall prevent the student from participating in an athletic activity.
118 (3) A student removed or prevented from participating in an athletic activity under
119 Subsection (1) or (2) may return to participation after a qualified health care provider:
120 (a) evaluates the student; and
121 (b) provides a written statement to the student's school clearing the student for athletic
122 activity.
123 Section 4. Section 53A-11-1704 is enacted to read:
124 53A-11-1704. Construction.
125 Nothing in this part may be construed to establish, expand, reduce, contract, or
126 eliminate any liability on the part of a school, a school employee, or an LEA.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel