2016 -- S 2265

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION IN SCHOOL SPORTS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: February 09, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 106

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THE SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION ACT

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     16-106-1. Short title. -- This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Sudden

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Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act".

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     16-106-2. Definitions. -- For the purposes of this section, the term "youth sport program

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or activity" means any program organized for recreational and/or athletic competition purposes

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by any school district or by any school participating in Rhode Island Interscholastic League

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competition, and whose participants are nineteen (19) years of age or younger.

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     16-106-3. School districts' guidelines to be developed and implemented. -- (a) The

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department of education and the department of health shall promulgate guidelines to inform and

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educate coaches, teachers, school nurses, youth athletes, and their parents and/or guardians about

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the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest, including the risks associated with

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continuing to play or practice after experiencing the following symptoms: fainting or seizures

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during exercise, unexplained shortness of breath, chest pains, dizziness, racing heart rate and

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extreme fatigue.

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     (b) School districts may use training materials made available at no cost to the school

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district by organizations such as Simon's Fund, Parent Heart Watch, Sudden Arrhythmia Death

 

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Syndromes Foundation, or training materials substantively and substantially similar thereto. The

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department of education shall post links to training materials on its website. All coaches and

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volunteers involved in a youth sport program or activity covered by this chapter must complete a

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training course annually about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest, including

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the risks associated with continuing to play or practice after experiencing symptoms including,

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fainting or seizures during exercise, unexplained shortness of breath, chest pains, dizziness,

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racing heart rate and extreme fatigue. Training may consist of videos, classes, and any other

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generally accepted mode and medium of providing information.

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     (c) Parents and/or guardians shall be provided with information as to the nature and

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warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest prior to the start of every sport season and they shall sign

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an acknowledgement as to their receipt of such information.

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     (d)(1) A student who, as determined by a game official, coach from the student's team,

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certified athletic trainer, licensed physician or other official designated by the student's school

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entity, exhibits signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest while participating in an athletic

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activity shall be removed by the coach from participation at that time, subject to subsection (3) of

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this section.

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     (2) If a student is known to have exhibited signs or symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest at

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any time prior to or following an athletic activity, the student shall be prevented from

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participating in an athletic activity, subject to subsection (3) of this section.

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     (3) A student removed or prevented from participating in an athletic activity under

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subsections (1) or (2) of this section shall not return to participation until the student is evaluated

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and cleared for return to participation in writing by a licensed physician, certified registered nurse

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practitioner or cardiologist.

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     (e) All school districts are encouraged to have an athletic trainer, or similarly trained

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person, at all recreational and athletic events addressed by this statute.

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     16-106-4. All other youth sports program. -- All other youth sports programs not

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specifically addressed by this statute are encouraged to follow the guidance set forth in this

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statute for all program participants who are age nineteen (19) and younger.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION IN SCHOOL SPORTS

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     This act would address the potential for sudden cardiac arrest among student athletes by

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raising awareness of the symptoms and requiring medical evaluations.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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