The Safe Stars Act generally requires LEAs and public charter schools that provide a school youth athletic activity to implement the following safety standards: (1) Require all coaches to annually complete a concussion recognition and head injury safety education course program, annually complete a sudden cardiac arrest education program, receive training in CPR and in the use of AEDs, and comply with all applicable background check and fingerprinting requirements; (2) Implement plans and policies concerning allergic reactions, emergency action, and severe weather; and (3) Develop a code of conduct for coaches. This bill creates a safe stars advisory committee to develop guidelines and other materials to inform and educate students, parents, and coaches about: (1) The nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest and the risks associated with continuing to play or practice after experiencing one or more such symptoms; (2) EKG testing; and (3) The student's or parent's option to request, from the student's family medical provider, that an EKG be administered in addition to the student's comprehensive initial preparticipation physical examination, at a cost to be incurred by the student or the student's parent. The safe stars advisory committee will consist of the following members: (1) The commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee; (2) The commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee; (3) A member of the education administration committee of the house of representatives, who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; (4) A member of the education committee of the senate, who is appointed by the speaker of the senate; (5) A member of the health committee of the house of representatives, who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and (6) A member of the health and welfare committee of the senate, who is appointed by the speaker of the senate. Present law also encourages each LEA and public charter school that provides a school youth athletic activity to visit the department of health's website to review the safety standards recommended for each level of recognition provided as part of the department's safe stars initiative, and to communicate with the department to ensure that all safety measures are up to date. This bill instead requires each LEA and public charter school that provides a school youth athletic activity to review the safety standards recommended for each level of recognition provided by the safe stars advisory committee and communicate with the advisory committee to ensure that all safety measures are up to date for the LEA or public charter school. This bill also requires each LEA and public charter school that provides a school youth athletic activity to implement a safety standard that, prior to a student participating in a school youth athletic activity, a student must submit to the principal of the school in the LEA or the public charter school: (1) A preparticipation medical evaluation form signed by a doctor of medicine, osteopathic physician, physician assistant, or certified nurse practitioner stating that the student has passed a physical examination, not prior to April 15, and that in their opinion the student is physically fit to participate in a school youth athletic activity; or (2) A statement written and signed by the student's parent or legal guardian or the student, if the student is 18 years of age or older, declining a preparticipation medical evaluation on grounds of sincerely held beliefs or practices.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-6-3601(c), 49-6-3601, 49-6-3601(b), 49-6-3602