SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION ACT - ENACTMENT — 2012 Pa. Act 59 (historical enacted text)

Historical Act text

SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2118, 2441PRINTER'S NO. 3442
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.1610Session 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
SENATOR PICCOLA, EDUCATION, IN SENATE, AS AMENDED, MAY 1, 2012
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
27 play or practice after experiencing the following symptoms: <--
28 one or more symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest, including <--
fainting, difficulty breathing, chest pains, dizziness and
abnormal racing heart rate.
(2) In developing the guidelines and materials, the
department and the Department of Education may utilize
3 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
10 receipt and review of the a sudden cardiac arrest symptoms <--
11 and warning sign signs 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
27 time, subject to paragraph (3). <--
(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
1 prevented from participating in an athletic activity, subject <--
to paragraph (3).
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 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.
10 (3) A student removed or prevented from participating in <--
an athletic activity under paragraph (1) or (2) 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.
(4) In order to help determine whether a student is
ready to return to play, the 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.
(3) For a third violation, permanent suspension from
coaching any athletic activity.
(f) Other youth athletic activities.--The sponsors of youth
10 athletic activities not associated with a school entity 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
15 collective bargaining agreement in effect on the effective <--
date of this section 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.