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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill addresses cardiac safety for school athletic activity participants.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ defines terms;
13 ▸ requires the State Board of Education (board), in coordination with the Department
14 of Health, to develop training and informational materials regarding warning signs
15 of sudden cardiac arrest;
16 ▸ requires the board to publish the training and informational materials online;
17 ▸ requires a school coach to annually participate in the training;
18 ▸ allows a school to hold an informational meeting regarding warning signs of sudden
19 cardiac arrest before the beginning of an athletic season;
20 ▸ requires a student who participates in a school athletic activity and the student's
21 parent or guardian to sign an acknowledgment of receipt of information on the
22 warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest;
23 ▸ requires a coach and certain other individuals to remove a student from participation
24 in a school athletic activity if the student shows certain symptoms and limits the
25 liability of the coach or other individual for certain action or inaction;
26 ▸ requires a student who is removed from participation in a school athletic activity to
27 be evaluated by a physician before returning to participation; and
28 ▸ provides rulemaking authority.
29 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
30 None
31 Other Special Clauses:
32 None
33 Utah Code Sections Affected:
34 ENACTS:
35 53G-9-901, Utah Code Annotated 1953
36 53G-9-902, Utah Code Annotated 1953
37 53G-9-903, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38 53G-9-904, Utah Code Annotated 1953
39 53G-9-905, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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41 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
42 Section 1. Section 53G-9-901 is enacted to read:
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44 53G-9-901. Definitions.
45 As used in this part:
46 (1) "Athletic activity" means an organized athletic activity that is sponsored by or
47 associated with an LEA.
48 (2) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
49 (3) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means a school district or charter school that
50 serves students in grade 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
51 Section 2. Section 53G-9-902 is enacted to read:
52 53G-9-902. Sudden cardiac arrest education and training -- Informational
53 meeting.
54 (1) In coordination with the Department of Health, the board shall develop a training,
55 information sheet, and other materials to inform and educate school officials, teachers, athletic
56 coaches, students, and parents about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest,
57 including the risks associated with continuing to participate in an athletic activity when
58 experiencing any of the following symptoms:
59 (a) fainting or seizures during exercise;
60 (b) unexplained shortness of breath;
61 (c) chest pain;
62 (d) dizziness;
63 (e) racing heartbeat; or
64 (f) extreme fatigue.
65 (2) The board shall publish the training and materials described in Subsection (1) on a
66 publicly accessible website.
67 (3) Before the beginning of the season for an athletic activity, a school may hold an
68 informational meeting regarding the warning signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest for:
69 (a) students;
70 (b) parents or legal guardians;
71 (c) coaches and athletic trainers; and
72 (d) other school officials.
73 Section 3. Section 53G-9-903 is enacted to read:
74 53G-9-903. Coach participation in sudden cardiac arrest training -- Parent and
75 student acknowledgment.
76 (1) (a) A coach of an athletic activity shall annually complete the sudden cardiac arrest
77 training described in Subsection 53G-9-902(1).
78 (b) A coach of an athletic activity may not coach the athletic activity until the training
79 described in Subsection (1)(a) is completed.
80 (2) A student participating in or desiring to participate in an athletic activity and the
81 student's parent or guardian shall sign and return to the student's school an acknowledgment of
82 receipt and review of an informational sheet describing sudden cardiac arrest warning signs and
83 symptoms.
84 Section 4. Section 53G-9-904 is enacted to read:
85 53G-9-904. Student athletic participation after sudden cardiac arrest symptoms --
86 Liability.
87 (1) If a student exhibits a symptom of sudden cardiac arrest described in Subsection
88 53G-9-902(1) while participating in or immediately after an athletic activity, the student's
89 coach for the athletic activity shall immediately notify the student's parent or guardian of the
90 student's symptom.
91 (2) If a student collapses or faints while participating in an athletic activity or
92 immediately after an athletic activity, the student's coach, athletic director, or athletic trainer
93 shall immediately remove the student from participation in the athletic activity.
94 (3) The student described in Subsection (2) may not return to participate in the athletic
95 activity until the student is evaluated and cleared for return to participation in writing by a
96 licensed physician.
97 (4) A coach, athletic director, or athletic trainer acting in good faith under this section
98 is not liable for any action or inaction unless the coach, athletic director, or athletic trainer acts
99 in a grossly negligent or reckless manner.
100 Section 5. Section 53G-9-905 is enacted to read:
101 53G-9-905. Rulemaking.
102 The board shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
103 Administrative Rulemaking Act, to implement this part.