Bill Text: CT SB00229 | 2014 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 24-4-1)
Status: (Passed) 2014-06-06 - Signed by the Governor [SB00229 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2014-SB00229-Chaptered.html
Substitute Senate Bill No. 229
AN ACT CONCERNING SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) For purposes of this section and sections 2 to 4, inclusive, of this act, "intramural or interscholastic athletics" shall include any activity sponsored by a school or local education agency, as defined in section 10-15f of the general statutes, or an organization sanctioned by the local education agency that involves any athletic contest, practice, scrimmage, competition, demonstration, display or club activity.
(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year thereafter, the State Board of Education, in consultation with (1) the Commissioner of Public Health, (2) the governing authority for intramural and interscholastic athletics, (3) an appropriate organization representing licensed athletic trainers, and (4) an organization representing national, state or local medical associations, shall develop or approve a sudden cardiac arrest awareness education program for use by local and regional boards of education. Such program shall be published on the State Board of Education's Internet web site and shall include: (A) The warning signs and symptoms associated with a sudden cardiac arrest, including, but not limited to, fainting, difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness and abnormal racing heart rate, (B) the risks associated with continuing to engage in intramural or interscholastic athletics after exhibiting such warning signs and symptoms, (C) the means of obtaining proper medical treatment for a person suspected of experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest, and (D) the proper method of allowing a student who has experienced a sudden cardiac arrest to return to intramural or interscholastic athletics. When developing or approving such program, the State Board of Education may utilize existing materials developed by organizations such as Simon's Fund.
(c) (1) On or before July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the organizations described in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section, shall develop and approve an informed consent form to distribute to the parents and legal guardians of students involved in intramural or interscholastic athletics regarding sudden cardiac arrest. Such informed consent form shall include, at a minimum, (A) a summary of the sudden cardiac arrest awareness education program described in subsection (b) of this section, and (B) a summary of the applicable local or regional board of education's policies regarding sudden cardiac arrests.
(2) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year thereafter, any person who holds or is issued a coaching permit by the State Board of Education and is a coach of intramural or interscholastic athletics shall, prior to commencing the coaching assignment for the season of such school athletics, provide each participating student's parent or legal guardian with a copy of the informed consent form described in subdivision (1) of this subsection and obtain such parent's or legal guardian's signature, attesting to the fact that such parent or legal guardian has received a copy of such form and authorizes the student to participate in the intramural or interscholastic athletics.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year thereafter, any person who holds or is issued a coaching permit by the State Board of Education and is a coach of intramural or interscholastic athletics shall annually review the program developed or approved pursuant to subsection (b) of section 1 of this act, prior to commencing the coaching assignment for the season of such intramural or interscholastic athletics.
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year thereafter, the State Board of Education may revoke the coaching permit, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (i) of section 10-145b of the general statutes, of any coach found to be in violation of any of the provisions of section 2 of this act.
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year thereafter, any person who holds or is issued a coaching permit by the State Board of Education and is a coach of intramural or interscholastic athletics shall be immune from suit and liability, both personally and in his or her official capacity, for any actions or omissions pursuant to the provisions of sections 1 and 2 of this act, unless the actions or omissions of such person constitute wilful misconduct, gross negligence or recklessness.
(b) Nothing in sections 1 and 2 of this act shall be construed to relieve a coach of intramural or interscholastic athletics of his or her duties or obligations under any provision of the general statutes, the regulations of Connecticut state agencies or a collective bargaining agreement.