Bill Text: PA HB1610 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Establishing standards for preventing sudden cardiac arrest and death in student athletes; assigning duties to the Department of Health and the Department of Education; and imposing penalties.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 31-20)

Status: (Passed) 2012-05-30 - Act No. 59 [HB1610 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HB1610-Amended.html

---

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2118 PRINTER'S NO. 2441
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1610 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY VEREB, QUIGLEY, MATZIE, CREIGHTON, BOBACK, BRADFORD, BRIGGS, V. BROWN, BROWNLEE, DEASY, DONATUCCI, FARRY, FRANKEL, GEIST, GINGRICH, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, KAUFFMAN, KILLION, KOTIK, MANN, MICOZZIE, MURT, NEUMAN, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PASHINSKI, PYLE, QUINN, ROCK, SANTARSIERO, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, STERN, SWANGER, TAYLOR, TOOHIL, WAGNER, YOUNGBLOOD, D. COSTA, READSHAW, RAPP, SONNEY, TOEPEL, SIMMONS, SACCONE, GILLEN, ADOLPH AND R. BROWN, JUNE 16, 2011
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011
AN ACT
Establishing standards for preventing sudden cardiac arrest and
death in student athletes; assigning duties to the Department
of Health and the Department of Education; and imposing
penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Sudden
Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Athletic activity." All of the following:
(1) Interscholastic athletics.
(2) An athletic contest or competition, other than
interscholastic athletics, that is sponsored by or associated
with a school entity, including cheerleading, club-sponsored
sports activities and sports activities sponsored by school-
affiliated organizations.
(3) Noncompetitive cheerleading that is sponsored by or
associated with a school entity.
(4) Practices, interschool practices and scrimmages for
all of the activities listed under paragraphs (1), (2) and
(3).
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"Interscholastic athletics." As defined in section 1602-A of
the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public
School Code of 1949.
"School entity." As defined in section 1602-A of the act of
March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code
of 1949.
Section 3. Sudden cardiac arrest.
(a) Educational materials.--
(1) The department and the Department of Education shall
develop and post on their publicly accessible Internet
websites guidelines and other relevant materials to inform
and educate students participating in or desiring to
participate in an athletic activity, their parents and their
coaches about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac
arrest, including the risks associated with continuing to
play or practice after experiencing the following symptoms:
fainting, difficulty breathing, chest pains, dizziness and
abnormal racing heart rate. <--
(2) In developing the guidelines and materials, the
20110HB1610PN2441 - 2 -
department and the Department of Education may utilize
existing materials developed by organizations, such as Parent
Heart Watch and Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes.
(3) A student participating in or desiring to
participate in an athletic activity and the student's parent
or guardian shall, each school year and prior to
participation by the student in an athletic activity, sign
and return to the student's school an acknowledgment of
receipt and review of the sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and
warning sign information sheet developed under this
subsection.
(b) Informational meeting.--A school entity may hold an
informational meeting prior to the start of each athletic season
for all ages of competitors regarding the symptoms and warning
signs of sudden cardiac arrest. In addition to students,
parents, coaches and other school officials, informational
meetings may include physicians, pediatric cardiologists and
athletic trainers.
(c) Removal from play.--
(1) A student who, as determined by a game official,
coach from the student's team, certified athletic trainer,
licensed physician or other official designated by the
student's school entity, exhibits signs or symptoms of sudden
cardiac arrest while participating in an athletic activity
shall be removed by the coach from participation at that
time.
(2) If a student is known to have exhibited signs or
symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest at any time prior to or
following an athletic activity, the student shall be
prevented from participating in an athletic activity.
20110HB1610PN2441 - 3 -
(3) The student shall not return to participation in an
athletic activity until the student is evaluated and cleared
for return to participation in writing by an appropriate <--
medical professional a licensed physician or certified <--
registered nurse practitioner or, if referred by a licensed
physician or certified registered nurse practitioner to a
cardiologist for evaluation, the written clearance is
provided by the cardiologist.
(4) In order to help determine whether a student is
ready to return to play, the appropriate medical professional <--
licensed physician or certified registered nurse practitioner <--
may consult any other licensed or certified medical
professionals.
(d) Training course.--
(1) Once each school year, a coach of an athletic
activity shall complete the sudden cardiac arrest training
course offered by a provider approved by the department.
(2) A coach of an athletic activity shall not coach the
athletic activity until the coach completes the training
course required under this subsection.
(e) Penalties.--The governing body of a school entity shall
establish the following minimum penalties for a coach found in
violation of the requirements under subsection (c), which
penalties shall take effect two years following the effective
date of this section:
(1) For a first violation, suspension from coaching any
athletic activity for the remainder of the season.
(2) For a second violation, suspension from coaching any
athletic activity for the remainder of the season and for the
next season.
20110HB1610PN2441 - 4 -
(3) For a third violation, permanent suspension from
coaching any athletic activity.
(f) Other youth athletic activities.--The sponsors of youth
athletic activities are encouraged to follow the guidance stated
in this act.
(g) Construction.--Nothing in this act shall be construed
to:
(1) abridge or limit any rights provided under a
collective bargaining agreement or any rights provided under
the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), known as the
Public Employe Relations Act; or
(2) create, establish, expand, reduce, contract or
eliminate any civil liability on the part of any school
entity or school employee.
Section 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20110HB1610PN2441 - 5 -