EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDE D TO EXISTING LAW .
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0935*
HOUSE BILL 935
F1 5lr1957
By: Delegates Roberts, Atterbeary, Fair, J. Long, Martinez, Phillips, Queen,
Roberson, Schmidt, Taylor, Williams, Woods, and Young
Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Schools – Venue–Specific Emergency Action Plans – High School Football 2
Games 3
FOR the purpose of altering the requirements of a venue–specific emergency action plan to 4
include the on–site presence of a licensed athletic trainer or an ambulance at each 5
high school football game; and generally relating to venue–specific emergency action 6
plan requirements. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Education 9
Section 7–451 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Education 15
7–451. 16
(a) (1) Each middle school and high school shall develop a venue–specific 17
emergency action plan for all athletic facilities. 18
(2) A venue–specific emergency action plan includes: 19
(i) The operation and use of automatic external defibrillators in 20
accordance with § 7–425 of this subtitle; 21
(ii) Heat acclimatization in accordance with § 7–434 of this subtitle; 22 2 HOUSE BILL 935
(iii) Coordination of care for other emergent injuries, including 1
cervical spinal injury, concussion and closed head injury, major orthopedic injuries, and 2
severe weather for outdoor facilities; [and] 3
(IV) FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTB ALL PROGRAMS ONLY, THE 4
PRESENCE OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ON –SITE DURING A GAME : 5
1. AN ATHLETIC TRAINER L ICENSED UNDER TITLE 14, 6
SUBTITLE 5D OF THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE; OR 7
2. AN AMBULANCE STAFFED WITH THE APPROPRIATE 8
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SE RVICES PERSONNEL ; AND 9
[(iv)] (V) A cardiac emergency response plan in accordance with 10
subsection (e) of this section. 11
(b) A venue–specific emergency action plan developed under this section shall be: 12
(1) Posted at each athletic facility at the school; 13
(2) Available on the school’s website for viewing by a student athlete’s 14
parent or guardian at the beginning of each school year; 15
(3) Distributed to each member of the coaching staff; and 16
(4) Rehearsed in person and interactively by all of the coaching staff of each 17
sport before each of their respective seasons. 18
(c) The provisions of a venue–specific emergency action plan for the operation and 19
use of automatic external defibrillators shall ensure that: 20
(1) An automated external defibrillator is provided on–site and is located 21
at or within a brief walk from an athletic practice or event on school property; 22
(2) An automated external defibrillator is freely accessible during all school 23
functions; 24
(3) All members of the coaching staff are trained in the operation and use 25
of an automated external defibrillator; and 26
(4) A trained member of the coaching staff is present at all athletic 27
practices and events on school property. 28
(d) The provisions of a venue–specific emergency action plan for heat 29
acclimatization shall: 30 HOUSE BILL 935 3
(1) Include guidelines for student athletes consistent with the Model Policy 1
for Preseason–Practice Heat Acclimatization Guidelines for Student Athletes established 2
under § 7–434 of this subtitle; 3
(2) Ensure that each school is properly prepared and equipped to initiate 4
cold water immersion for the treatment of exertional heat stroke; 5
(3) Ensure that the cooling modality is readily available to student athletes 6
at all athletic practices and events on school property; 7
(4) Ensure that all members of the coaching staff are trained in cold water 8
immersion; and 9
(5) Ensure that a trained member of the coaching staff is present at all 10
athletic practices and events on school property. 11
(e) (1) Each venue–specific emergency action plan shall include a cardiac 12
emergency response plan. 13
(2) The cardiac emergency response plan shall: 14
(i) Identify the appropriate school personnel to serve as the cardiac 15
emergency response team who will be tasked with responding to incidents involving an 16
individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life–threatening emergency 17
while at an athletic facility; 18
(ii) Coordinate with first responders in the local emergency medical 19
services to integrate the cardiac emergency action plan into local emergency response 20
protocols; and 21
(iii) Include, at minimum, the following evidence –based core 22
elements recommended by an appropriate national organization, including the American 23
Heart Association: 24
1. Procedures for activating the cardiac emergency response 25
team during incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a 26
similar life–threatening emergency while at an athletic facility; and 27
2. Requiring specified school personnel to have training in 28
first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the operation and use of automated 29
external defibrillators, in accordance with § 7–425 of this subtitle, including cardiac 30
emergency response team members, athletic coaching and training staff, school nurses, and 31
any other individuals identified by the cardiac emergency response team. 32
(3) Each year, each middle school and high school shall review and update 33
the cardiac emergency response plan required under this subsection. 34 4 HOUSE BILL 935
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 1
1, 2025. 2