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

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Date Published: 10/10/2023 09:00 PM
AB1653:v94#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 1653
CHAPTER 589

An act to amend Section 35179.4 of, and to add Section 35179.8 to, the Education Code, relating to interscholastic athletics.

[ Approved by Governor  October 08, 2023. Filed with Secretary of State  October 08, 2023. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1653, Sanchez. Interscholastic athletic programs: emergency action plans: heat illness: guidelines.
Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools operated by local educational agencies throughout this state. Existing law authorizes public and private secondary schools to participate in interscholastic sports, and authorizes schools to enter into associations or consortia to enact and enforce rules relating to eligibility for, and participation in, these activities.
If a school district or charter school elects to offer any interscholastic athletic program, existing law requires the governing entity of the school district or charter school to ensure that there is a written emergency action plan in place that describes the location and procedures to be followed in the event of sudden cardiac arrest or other medical emergencies related to the athletic program’s activities or events.
This bill would require the written emergency action plan to also include the location and procedures to be followed in the event of heat illness related to the athletic program’s activities or events, as provided. The bill would also require the California Interscholastic Federation, in consultation with the State Department of Education, to, no later than July 1, 2024, develop guidelines, procedures, and safety standards for the prevention and management of exertional heat illness, as provided.
This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 35179.4 of the Education Code proposed by AB 245 to be operative only if this bill and AB 245 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


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 and procedures to be followed in the event of sudden cardiac arrest and other medical emergencies, including heat illness, related to the athletic program’s activities or events. 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.