| Chapter 338 |
| 2017 -- H 6359 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 09/28/2017 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO EDUCATION - CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION IN SCHOOL SPORTS |
| Introduced By: Representatives Costantino, Marshall, Bennett, Kennedy, and O'Brien |
| Date Introduced: June 23, 2017 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended |
| by adding thereto the following chapter: |
| CHAPTER 91.1 |
| THE SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION ACT |
| 16-91.1-1. Short title. |
| This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act". |
| 16-91.1-2. Definitions. |
| For the purposes of this chapter, the term "youth sport program or activity" means any |
| program organized for recreational and/or athletic competition purposes by any school district, or |
| by any school participating in Rhode Island Interscholastic League competition, and whose |
| participants are nineteen (19) years of age or younger. |
| 16-91.1-3. School districts' guidelines to be developed and implemented. |
| (a) The department of education and the department of health shall promulgate guidelines |
| to inform and educate coaches, teachers, school nurses, youth athletes, and their parents and/or |
| guardians 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 |
| or seizures during exercise, unexplained shortness of breath, chest pains, dizziness, racing heart |
| rate and extreme fatigue. |
| (b) School districts may use training materials made available at no cost to the school |
| district by organizations such as Simon's Fund, Parent Heart Watch, Sudden Arrhythmia Death |
| Syndromes Foundation, or training materials substantively and substantially similar thereto. The |
| department of education shall post links to training materials on its website. All coaches and |
| volunteers involved in a youth sport program or activity covered by this chapter must complete a |
| training course which that may be completed online about the nature and warning signs of |
| sudden cardiac arrest, including the risks associated with continuing to play or practice after |
| experiencing symptoms including,: fainting or seizures during exercise, unexplained shortness of |
| breath, chest pains, dizziness, racing heart rate and extreme fatigue. Training may consist of |
| videos, classes, and any other generally accepted mode and medium of providing information. |
| (c) Parents and/or guardians shall be provided with information as to the nature and |
| warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest prior to the start of every sport season. |
| (d)(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, subject to subsection (d)(3) |
| of this section. |
| (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, subject to subsection (3) of this section. |
| (3) A student removed or prevented from participating in an athletic activity under |
| subsections (1) or (2) of this section shall not return to participation until the student is evaluated |
| and cleared for return to participation in writing by a licensed physician, certified registered nurse |
| practitioner, or cardiologist. |
| (e) All school districts are encouraged to have an athletic trainer, or similarly trained |
| person, at all recreational and athletic events addressed by this statute. |
| 16-91.1-4. All other youth sports program. |
| All other youth sports programs not specifically addressed by this chapter are encouraged |
| to follow the guidance set forth in this chapter for all program participants who are age nineteen |
| (19) and younger. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC002921/SUB A |
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