EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*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
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 1, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Schools – Venue–Specific Emergency Action Plans – High School Football 2
Games – Requirements 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 certain health care 5
professionals or an ambulance an ambulance staffed with certain emergency medical 6
services personnel, except under certain circumstances, at each high school football 7
game; and generally relating to venue–specific emergency action plan requirements. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Education 10
Section 7–451 and 7–452 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Education 16
7–451. 17
(a) (1) Each middle school and high school shall develop a venue–specific 18
emergency action plan for all athletic facilities. 19 2 HOUSE BILL 935
(2) A venue–specific emergency action plan includes: 1
(i) The operation and use of automatic external defibrillators in 2
accordance with § 7–425 of this subtitle; 3
(ii) Heat acclimatization in accordance with § 7–434 of this subtitle; 4
(iii) Coordination of care for other emergent injuries, including 5
cervical spinal injury, concussion and closed head injury, major orthopedic injuries, and 6
severe weather for outdoor facilities; [and] 7
(IV) FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTB ALL PROGRAMS ONLY , THE 8
PRESENCE OF ONE OF T HE FOLLOWING ON –SITE DURING A GAME : 9
1. AN ATHLETIC TRAINER L ICENSED UNDER TITLE 14, 10
SUBTITLE 5D OF THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE; OR 11
2. AN AMBULANCE STAFFED WITH THE APPROPRIATE 12
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SE RVICES PERSONNEL ; AND 13
[(iv)] (V) A cardiac emergency response plan in accordance with 14
subsection (e) of this section; AND 15
(V) FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTB ALL PROGRAMS ONLY , POLICIES 16
THAT MEET THE REQUIR EMENTS OF SUBSECTION (F) OF THIS SECTION . 17
(b) A venue–specific emergency action plan developed under this section shall be: 18
(1) Posted at each athletic facility at the school; 19
(2) Available on the school’s website for viewing by a student athlete’s 20
parent or guardian at the beginning of each school year; 21
(3) Distributed to each member of the coaching staff; and 22
(4) Rehearsed in person and interactively by all of the coaching staff of each 23
sport before each of their respective seasons. 24
(c) The provisions of a venue–specific emergency action plan for the operation and 25
use of automatic external defibrillators shall ensure that: 26
(1) An automated external defibrillator is provided on–site and is located 27
at or within a brief walk from an athletic practice or event on school property; 28
HOUSE BILL 935 3
(2) An automated external defibrillator is freely accessible during all school 1
functions; 2
(3) All members of the coaching staff are trained in the operation and use 3
of an automated external defibrillator; and 4
(4) A trained member of the coaching staff is present at all athletic 5
practices and events on school property. 6
(d) The provisions of a venue–specific emergency action plan for heat 7
acclimatization shall: 8
(1) Include guidelines for student athletes consistent with the Model Policy 9
for Preseason–Practice Heat Acclimatization Guidelines for Student Athletes established 10
under § 7–434 of this subtitle; 11
(2) Ensure that each school is properly prepared and equipped to initiate 12
cold water immersion for the treatment of exertional heat stroke; 13
(3) Ensure that the cooling modality is readily available to student athletes 14
at all athletic practices and events on school property; 15
(4) Ensure that all members of the coaching staff are trained in cold water 16
immersion; and 17
(5) Ensure that a trained member of the coaching staff is present at all 18
athletic practices and events on school property. 19
(e) (1) Each venue–specific emergency action plan shall include a cardiac 20
emergency response plan. 21
(2) The cardiac emergency response plan shall: 22
(i) Identify the appropriate school personnel to serve as the cardiac 23
emergency response team who will be tasked with responding to incidents involving an 24
individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life–threatening emergency 25
while at an athletic facility; 26
(ii) Coordinate with first responders in the local emergency medical 27
services to integrate the cardiac emergency action plan into local emergency response 28
protocols; and 29
(iii) Include, at minimum, the following evidence –based core 30
elements recommended by an appropriate national organization, including the American 31
Heart Association: 32
4 HOUSE BILL 935
1. Procedures for activating the cardiac emergency response 1
team during incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a 2
similar life–threatening emergency while at an athletic facility; and 3
2. Requiring specified school personnel to have training in 4
first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the operation and use of automated 5
external defibrillators, in accordance with § 7–425 of this subtitle, including cardiac 6
emergency response team members, athletic coaching and training staff, school nurses, and 7
any other individuals identified by the cardiac emergency response team. 8
(3) Each year, each middle school and high school shall review and update 9
the cardiac emergency response plan required under this subsection. 10
(F) (1) THE VENUE–SPECIFIC EMERGENCY ACTION P LAN FOR A HIGH 11
SCHOOL FOOTBALL PROG RAM SHALL INCLUDE DU RING A GAME: 12
(I) THE PRESENCE OF A VOL UNTEER OR LOCAL SCHO OL 13
SYSTEM EMPLOYEE WHO IS ONE OF THE FOLLOW ING TRAINED HEALTH C ARE 14
PROFESSIONALS : 15
1. AN ATHLETIC TRAINER L ICENSED UNDER TITLE 14, 16
SUBTITLE 5D OF THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE; 17
2. AN INDIVIDUAL LICENSE D OR CERTIFIED TO PR OVIDE 18
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SE RVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 13–516 OF THIS ARTICLE; 19
3. A NURSE, LICENSED UNDER TITLE 8 OF THE HEALTH 20
OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE; OR 21
4. A PHYSICIAN LICENSED U NDER TITLE 14 OF THE 22
HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE; OR 23
(II) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , AN 24
AMBULANCE STAFFED WI TH THE APPROPRIATE E MERGENCY MEDICAL SER VICES 25
PERSONNEL . 26
(2) THE REQUIREMENTS UNDE R PARAGRAPH (1)(II) OF THIS 27
SUBSECTION MAY BE SA TISFIED IF AN AMBULA NCE WITH THE APPROPR IATE 28
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SE RVICES PERSONNEL IS LOCATED WITHIN 3 DRIVING MILES 29
OF THE HIGH SCHOOL F OOTBALL GAME AT A FI RE, RESCUE, OR AMBULANCE 30
FACILITY. 31
(3) NOTHING IN THIS SUBSE CTION MAY BE CONSTRU ED TO PROHIBIT 32
AN AMBULANCE DESCRIB ED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION F ROM 33
RESPONDING TO AN EME RGENCY DURING THE CO URSE OF A FOOTBALL G AME. 34 HOUSE BILL 935 5
7–452. 1
(a) (1) Each nonpublic middle school and high school that receives State 2
funding shall develop a venue–specific emergency action plan for all athletic facilities. 3
(2) A venue–specific emergency action plan developed by a nonpublic 4
school shall include: 5
(i) The operation and use of automated external defibrillators in a 6
manner consistent with the requirements of § 13–517 of this article; 7
(ii) Heat acclimatization in a manner consistent with the model 8
policy developed under § 7–434 of this subtitle; 9
(iii) Coordination of care for other emergent injuries, including 10
cervical spinal injury, concussion and closed head injury, major orthopedic injuries, and 11
severe weather for outdoor facilities; [and] 12
(iv) A cardiac emergency response plan in accordance with 13
subsection (e) of this section; AND 14
(V) FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTB ALL PROGRAMS ONLY , POLICIES 15
THAT MEET THE REQUIR EMENTS OF SUBSECTION (F) OF THIS SECTION . 16
(b) A venue–specific emergency action plan developed under this section shall be: 17
(1) Posted at each athletic facility at the school; 18
(2) Available on the school’s website for viewing by a student athlete’s 19
parent or guardian at the beginning of each school year; 20
(3) Distributed to each member of the coaching staff; and 21
(4) Rehearsed in person and interactively by all of the coaching staff of each 22
sport before each of their respective seasons. 23
(c) The provisions of a venue–specific emergency action plan for the operation and 24
use of automated external defibrillators shall ensure that: 25
(1) An automated external defibrillator is provided on–site and is located 26
at or within a brief walk from an athletic practice or event on school property; 27
(2) An automated external defibrillator is freely accessible during all school 28
functions; 29
6 HOUSE BILL 935
(3) All members of the coaching staff are trained in the operation and use 1
of an automated external defibrillator; and 2
(4) A trained member of the coaching staff is present at all athletic 3
practices and events on school property. 4
(d) The provisions of a venue–specific emergency action plan for heat 5
acclimatization shall: 6
(1) Include guidelines for student athletes consistent with the Model Policy 7
for Preseason–Practice Heat Acclimatization Guidelines for Student Athletes established 8
under § 7–434 of this subtitle; 9
(2) Ensure that each school is properly prepared and equipped to initiate 10
cold water immersion for the treatment of exertional heat stroke; 11
(3) Ensure that the cooling modality is readily available to student athletes 12
at all athletic practices and events on school property; 13
(4) Ensure that all members of the coaching staff are trained in cold water 14
immersion; and 15
(5) Ensure that a trained member of the coaching staff is present at all 16
athletic practices and events on school property. 17
(e) (1) Each venue–specific emergency action plan shall include a cardiac 18
emergency response plan. 19
(2) The cardiac emergency response plan shall: 20
(i) Identify the appropriate school personnel to serve as the cardiac 21
emergency response team who will be tasked with responding to incidents involving an 22
individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life–threatening emergency 23
while at an athletic facility; 24
(ii) Coordinate with first responders in the local emergency medical 25
services to integrate the cardiac emergency action plan into local emergency response 26
protocols; and 27
(iii) Include, at minimum, the following evidence –based core 28
elements recommended by an appropriate national organization, including the American 29
Heart Association: 30
1. Procedures for activating the cardiac emergency response 31
team during incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a 32
similar life–threatening emergency while at an athletic facility; and 33
HOUSE BILL 935 7
2. Requiring specified school personnel to have training in 1
first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the operation and use of automated 2
external defibrillators, in a manner consistent with § 7–425 of this subtitle, including 3
cardiac emergency response team members, athletic coaching and training staff, school 4
nurses, and any other individuals identified by the cardiac emergency response team. 5
(3) Each year, each middle school and high school shall review and update 6
the cardiac emergency response plan required under this subsection. 7
(F) (1) THE VENUE–SPECIFIC EMERGENCY A CTION PLAN FOR A HIG H 8
SCHOOL FOOTBALL PROG RAM SHALL INCLUDE DU RING A GAME: 9
(I) THE PRESENCE OF A VOL UNTEER OR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL 10
EMPLOYEE WHO IS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TRA INED HEALTH CARE 11
PROFESSIONALS : 12
1. AN ATHLETIC TRAINER L ICENSED UNDER TITLE 14, 13
SUBTITLE 5D OF THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE; 14
2. AN INDIVIDUAL LICENSE D OR CERTIFIED TO PR OVIDE 15
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SE RVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 13–516 OF THIS ARTICLE; 16
3. A NURSE LICENSED UNDER TITLE 8 OF THE HEALTH 17
OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE; OR 18
4. A PHYSICIAN LICENSED U NDER TITLE 14 OF THE 19
HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE; OR 20
(II) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , AN 21
AMBULANCE STAFFED WI TH THE APPROPRIATE E MERGENCY MEDICAL SER VICES 22
PERSONNEL . 23
(2) THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER PARAGRAPH (1)(II) OF THIS 24
SUBSECTION MAY BE SA TISFIED IF AN AMBULA NCE WITH THE APPROPR IATE 25
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SE RVICES PERSONNEL IS LOCATED WITHIN 3 DRIVING MILES 26
OF THE HIGH SCHOOL F OOTBALL GAME AT A FI RE, RESCUE, OR AMBULANCE 27
FACILITY. 28
(3) NOTHING IN THIS SUBSECTIO N MAY BE CONSTRUED T O PROHIBIT 29
AN AMBULANCE DESCRIB ED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION F ROM 30
RESPONDING TO AN EME RGENCY DURING THE CO URSE OF A FOOTBALL G AME. 31
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take eff ect July 32
1, 2025. 33