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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill addresses cardiac safety for participants in school athletic activities and
10 organized youth sporting events.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ defines terms;
14 ▸ requires the State Board of Education (state board) to establish a committee or
15 workgroup to develop training and informational materials regarding warning signs
16 of cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac arrest;
17 ▸ requires the board to make available the training and informational materials online;
18 ▸ requires a youth sports coach to annually participate in the training;
19 ▸ allows an amateur sports organization to hold an informational meeting regarding
20 warning signs of cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac arrest before the beginning of an
21 athletic season;
22 ▸ requires a participant in an athletic activity and the participant's parent to sign an
23 acknowledgment of receipt of information on the warning signs of cardiac arrest or
24 sudden cardiac arrest;
25 ▸ requires a coach and certain other individuals to remove a participant from an
26 athletic activity if the participant shows certain warning signs or symptoms;
27 ▸ limits the liability of the coach or other individual for certain action or inaction;
28 ▸ requires a physician evaluation of a participant who is removed from participation
29 in an athletic activity before returning to participation; and
30 ▸ provides rulemaking authority.
31 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
32 None
33 Other Special Clauses:
34 None
35 Utah Code Sections Affected:
36 ENACTS:
37 53G-9-901, Utah Code Annotated 1953
38 53G-9-902, Utah Code Annotated 1953
39 53G-9-903, Utah Code Annotated 1953
40 53G-9-904, Utah Code Annotated 1953
41 53G-9-905, Utah Code Annotated 1953
42 REPEALS:
43 26-53-101, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 97
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45 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
46 Section 1. Section 53G-9-901 is enacted to read:
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48 53G-9-901. Definitions.
49 As used in this part:
50 (1) (a) "Amateur sports organization" means any of the following that sponsor,
51 administer, or organize an athletic activity:
52 (i) a sports team;
53 (ii) a public or private school;
54 (iii) a public or private sports league;
55 (iv) a public or private sports camp; or
56 (v) any other public or private organization that organizes, manages, or sponsors a
57 sporting event for organization's members, enrollees, or attendees.
58 (b) "Amateur sports organization" does not include a professional team, league, or
59 sporting event.
60 (2) "Athletic activity" means an organized athletic activity that takes place at a public
61 venue.
62 (3) "Public venue" means a state, county, municipal, LEA, or school field, gym, court,
63 course, pool, track, or other athletic venue.
64 (4) "Secondary local education agency" or "Secondary LEA" means a school district or
65 charter school that serves students in grade 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
66 Section 2. Section 53G-9-902 is enacted to read:
67 53G-9-902. Cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac arrest education and training --
68 Informational meeting.
69 (1) The state board shall establish a committee or workgroup to develop a training,
70 information sheet, and other materials to inform and educate school officials, teachers, athletic
71 coaches, students, and parents about the nature, symptoms, and warning signs of cardiac arrest
72 or sudden cardiac arrest, including the risks associated with continuing to participate in an
73 athletic activity when experiencing warning signs or symptoms, as identified by the committee
74 or workgroup.
75 (2) The state board shall ensure that the committee or workgroup described in
76 Subsection (1) includes representation from:
77 (a) the Department of Health and Human Services;
78 (b) an athletic association, as that term is defined in Section 53G-7-1101; and
79 (c) licensed athletic trainers.
80 (3) The state board shall make available the training and materials described in
81 Subsection (1) on a publicly accessible website.
82 (4) Before the beginning of the season for an athletic activity, an amateur sports
83 organization shall hold an informational meeting, which the organization's affiliated medical
84 personnel conduct, regarding the warning signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest or sudden
85 cardiac arrest for participants, parents, coaches, and other amateur sports organization officials.
86 Section 3. Section 53G-9-903 is enacted to read:
87 53G-9-903. Coach participation in cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac arrest
88 training -- Parent and student acknowledgment.
89 (1) An athletic director and all coaches of an athletic activity:
90 (a) shall complete once and annually review the cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac arrest
91 training described in Section 53G-9-902;
92 (b) may not coach the athletic activity until the training described in Subsection (1)(a)
93 is completed; and
94 (c) shall maintain certification for CPR and AED.
95 (2) A student participating in or desiring to participate in an athletic activity and the
96 student's parent or guardian shall sign and return to the student's school an acknowledgment of
97 receipt and review of an informational sheet describing cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac arrest
98 warning signs and symptoms.
99 Section 4. Section 53G-9-904 is enacted to read:
100 53G-9-904. Student athletic participation after cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac
101 arrest warning signs or symptoms -- Liability.
102 (1) If a student exhibits a symptom associated with the possibility of cardiac arrest or
103 sudden cardiac arrest described in Section 53G-9-902 while participating in or immediately
104 after an athletic activity, the student's coach for the athletic activity shall immediately notify the
105 student's parent or guardian of the student's symptom.
106 (2) If a student collapses or faints while participating in an athletic activity or
107 immediately after an athletic activity with the suspected cause of the collapse or faint being
108 cardiac in nature:
109 (a) the student's coach, athletic director, or athletic trainer shall immediately remove
110 the student from participation in the athletic activity; and
111 (b) the student may not return to participate in the athletic activity until the student is
112 evaluated and cleared for return to participation in writing by a licensed physician who is
113 trained in cardiac evaluation and care.
114 (3) A coach, athletic director, or athletic trainer acting in good faith under this section
115 is not liable for any action or inaction unless the coach, athletic director, or athletic trainer acts
116 in a grossly negligent or reckless manner.
117 Section 5. Section 53G-9-905 is enacted to read:
118 53G-9-905. Rulemaking.
119 The board shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
120 Administrative Rulemaking Act, to implement this part.
121 Section 6. Repealer.
122 This bill repeals:
123 Section 26-53-101, Title.