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AB-1653 Interscholastic athletic programs: emergency action plans: heat illness: guidelines.(2023-2024)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Section 35179.4 of the Education Code is amended to read:

35179.4.
 If a school district or charter school elects to offer any interscholastic athletic program, the governing board of the school district or the governing body of the charter school shall ensure that there is a written emergency action plan in place that describes the location of emergency medical equipment  and procedures to be followed in the event of sudden cardiac arrest and other medical emergencies, including concussion and  heat illness, related to the athletic program’s activities or events. By July 1, 2024, the emergency action plan shall include a description of the manner and frequency at which the procedures to be followed in the event of sudden cardiac arrest and other medical emergencies, including concussion and heat illness, which shall be based on the training described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 35179.1, will be rehearsed.  The written emergency action plan shall be posted in compliance with the most recent pertinent guidelines of the National Federation of State High School Associations.

SEC. 1.5.

 Section 35179.4 of the Education Code is amended to read:

35179.4.
 If a school district or charter school elects to offer any interscholastic athletic program, the governing board of the school district or the governing body of the charter school shall ensure that there is a written emergency action plan in place that describes the location of emergency medical equipment and procedures to be followed in the event of sudden cardiac arrest and other medical emergencies, including concussion and heat illness, related to the athletic program’s activities or events. By July 1, 2024, the emergency action plan shall include a description of the manner and frequency at which the procedures to be followed in the event of sudden cardiac arrest and other medical emergencies, including concussion and heat illness, which shall be based on the training described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 35179.1, will be rehearsed. The written emergency action plan shall be posted in compliance with the most recent pertinent guidelines of the National Federation of State High School Associations.

SEC. 2.

 Section 35179.8 is added to the Education Code, to read:

35179.8.
 (a) In order to better protect student athletes participating in athletics, no later than July 1, 2024, the California Interscholastic Federation, in consultation with the department, shall develop guidelines, procedures, and safety standards for the prevention and management of exertional heat illness.
(b) Guidelines developed pursuant to this section shall identify the environmental conditions at which a school shall limit and prohibit practice and play. These guidelines shall include information regarding the accurate measurement of environmental heat stress at the site of the athletic activity, including the use of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) to determine ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation from the sun, including sun angle and cloud cover.
(c) Guidelines developed pursuant to this section shall identify the environmental conditions at which a school shall have a method to institute whole-body cooling to treat a student athlete with exertional heat illness, especially heat stroke, that is easily accessible at all practice and contest venues.
SEC. 3.
 Section 1.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 35179.4 of the Education Code proposed by both this bill and Assembly Bill 245. That section of this bill shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2024, (2) each bill amends Section 35179.4 of the Education Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Assembly Bill 245, in which case Section 1 of this bill shall not become operative.