H.B. No. 76
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to cardiac assessments of high school participants in
  extracurricular athletic activities sponsored or sanctioned by the
  University Interscholastic League.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 33.096 to read as follows:
         Sec. 33.096.  CARDIAC ASSESSMENTS OF HIGH SCHOOL
  PARTICIPANTS IN EXTRACURRICULAR ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES. (a) A school
  district must provide a district student, who is required under
  University Interscholastic League rule or policy to receive a
  physical examination before being allowed to participate in an
  athletic activity sponsored or sanctioned by the University
  Interscholastic League, the following:
               (1)  information about sudden cardiac arrest and
  electrocardiogram testing; and
               (2)  notification of the option of the student to
  request the administration of an electrocardiogram, in addition to
  the physical examination.
         (b)  A student may request an electrocardiogram from any
  health care professional, including a health care professional
  provided through the student's patient-centered medical home, as
  defined by Section 533.0029, Government Code, a health care
  professional provided through a school district program, or another
  health care professional chosen by the parent or person standing in
  parental relation to the student, provided that the health care
  professional is:
               (1)  appropriately licensed in this state; and
               (2)  authorized to administer and interpret
  electrocardiograms under the health care professional's scope of
  practice, as established by the health care professional's Texas
  licensing act.
         (c)  The University Interscholastic League shall adopt rules
  as necessary to administer this section.
         (d)  The rules adopted under Subsection (c) must include:
               (1)  criteria under which a school district may request
  an exemption from the requirements of Subsection (a);
               (2)  variances that allow for a delay of the
  implementation of the requirement to notify students of the option
  to request an electrocardiogram under this section;
               (3)  procedures to ensure students receiving the
  required annual physical examination are notified of the option to
  request an electrocardiogram; and
               (4)  provisions to ensure that the requirements under
  this section are minimum standards that provide a school district
  with the option to implement a program that exceeds the standards
  required by this section.
         (e)  This section does not create a cause of action or
  liability or a standard of care, obligation, or duty that provides a
  basis for a cause of action or liability against a health care
  professional described by Subsection (b), the University
  Interscholastic League, a school district, or a district officer or
  employee for:
               (1)  the injury or death of a student participating in
  or practicing for an athletic activity sponsored or sanctioned by
  the University Interscholastic League based on or in connection
  with the administration or interpretation of or reliance on an
  electrocardiogram; or
               (2)  the content or distribution of the information
  required under Subsection (a) or the failure to distribute the
  required information under this section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
  school year.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 76 was passed by the House on March
  26, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 76 on May 23, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 0, 1
  present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 76 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 20, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 20, Nays
  11.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor