THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

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 AND WAGNER, JUNE 16, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 16, 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

racing heart rate.

(2)  In developing the guidelines and materials, the

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.

(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.

(4)  In order to help determine whether a student is

ready to return to play, the appropriate medical professional

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.

(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.