Honorable Dan Huberty, Chair, House Committee on Public Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3476 by Huberty (Relating to cardiac assessments of high school participants in extracurricular athletic activities sponsored or sanctioned by the University Interscholastic League.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Under the bill, a student who is required by a University Interscholastic League (UIL) policy to have a physical examination prior to participating in a UIL event or activity would also be required to have an electrocardiogram. An electrocardiogram would be required before the student's first year of participation in grade nine or above and before the student's third year of participation.
The bill would stipulate hardship circumstances under which a school district could delay a required electrocardiogram. A school district could waive electrocardiogram requirements if a student's parent or a person standing in parental relation to the student submits a written request for a waiver for any reason. UIL would be required to adopt rules to administer the bill's requirements.
The bill would take immediate effect if it receives a two-thirds vote of each house of the Legislature. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2017. The bill would apply beginning with the 2018-2919 school year.
According to the University of Texas System, any additional work resulting from the passage of the bill could be reasonably absorbed within current resources. UIL is part of the University of Texas at Austin.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Education Agency, while school districts would be required to ensure that affected students receive an electrocardiogram, any associated costs would likely be minimal. Costs associated with receiving an electrocardiogram would be the responsibility of the student and the student's family.
Source Agencies:
701 Texas Education Agency, 720 The University of Texas System Administration