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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to information for prevention of sudden cardiac arrest |
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affecting public school students participating in interscholastic |
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athletics. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 38.0182 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.0182. INFORMATION FOR PREVENTION OF SUDDEN CARDIAC |
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ARREST AFFECTING STUDENT ATHLETES. (a) In this section, "parent" |
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includes a guardian or other person with legal authority to make |
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medical decisions for a student. |
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(b) This section applies to an interscholastic athletic |
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activity, including practice and competition, sponsored or |
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sanctioned by: |
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(1) a school district, including a home-rule school |
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district, or a public school, including any school for which a |
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charter has been granted under Chapter 12; or |
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(2) the University Interscholastic League. |
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(c) The agency and the Department of State Health Services |
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jointly shall develop guidelines and other relevant materials, in |
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accordance with this section, to educate students, parents, and |
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coaches, including assistant coaches, regarding sudden cardiac |
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arrest, including: |
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(1) warning signs and symptoms, including: |
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(A) fainting; |
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(B) difficulty breathing; |
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(C) chest pains; |
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(D) dizziness; and |
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(E) abnormal racing heart rate; and |
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(2) risks associated with continuing athletic |
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activity after experiencing a warning sign or symptom of sudden |
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cardiac arrest. |
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(d) In developing the guidelines and other materials under |
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Subsection (c), the agency and the Department of State Health |
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Services may use existing materials developed by an organization |
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with recognized expertise regarding sudden cardiac arrest. |
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(e) The agency and the Department of State Health Services |
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each shall post on the applicable agency's Internet website the |
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guidelines and other materials developed under Subsection (c). |
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(f) A student may not participate in an interscholastic |
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athletic activity for a school year until both the student and the |
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student's parent have signed a form for that school year that |
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acknowledges receiving and reading written information that: |
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(1) explains sudden cardiac arrest warning signs and |
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symptoms; and |
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(2) is consistent with the information in the |
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materials developed under Subsection (c). |
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(g) The form required under Subsection (f) must be approved |
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by the University Interscholastic League. |
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SECTION 2. Section 38.0182, Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies beginning with the 2013-2014 school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |