Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SB1223 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	HOUSE BILL 1113
3	3	By Hardaway
4	4
5	5	SENATE BILL 1223
6	6	By Oliver
7	7
8	8
9	9	SB1223
10	10	000092
11	11	- 1 -
12	12
13	13	AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
14	14	Chapter 6, Part 36 and Title 68, Chapter 6, relative
15	15	to youth athletic activities.
16	16
17	17	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
18	18	SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3601(c), is amended by
19	19	deleting subdivision (2) and substituting:
20	20	(2) Shall review the safety standards recommended for each level of recognition
21	21	provided as part of the safe stars advisory committee's "Safe Stars Initiative," and to
22	22	communicate with the safe stars advisory committee to ensure that all safety measures
23	23	are up to date for the LEA or public charter school.
24	24	SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3601(b), is amended by adding
25	25	the following as a new subdivision:
26	26	(4) Prior to a student participating in a school youth athletic activity, a student
27	27	must submit to the principal of the school in the LEA or the public charter school:
28	28	(A) A preparticipation medical evaluation form signed by a doctor of
29	29	medicine, osteopathic physician, physician assistant, or certified nurse
30	30	practitioner stating that the student has passed a physical examination, not prior
31	31	to April 15, and that in their opinion the student is physically fit to participate in a
32	32	school youth athletic activity; or
33	33	(B) A statement written and signed by the student's parent or legal
34	34	guardian or the student, if the student is eighteen (18) years of age or older,
35	35	declining a preparticipation medical evaluation on grounds of sincerely held
36	36	beliefs or practices.
37	37
38	38
39	39	- 2 - 000092
40	40
41	41	SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3602, is amended by deleting
42	42	the section and substituting:
43	43	(a) There is created a safe stars advisory committee to develop guidelines and
44	44	other relevant materials to inform and educate students, parents, and coaches about:
45	45	(1) The nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest and the risks
46	46	associated with continuing to play or practice after experiencing one (1) or more
47	47	symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest, which include fainting, difficulty breathing,
48	48	chest pains, dizziness, and an abnormal racing heart rate;
49	49	(2) Electrocardiogram (EKG) testing; and
50	50	(3) The student's or parent's option to request, from the student's family
51	51	medical provider, that an electrocardiogram (EKG) be administered in addition to
52	52	the student's comprehensive initial preparticipation physical examination, at a
53	53	cost to be incurred by the student or the student's parent.
54	54	(b) The safe stars advisory committee consists of the following members:
55	55	(1) The commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee;
56	56	(2) The commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee;
57	57	(3) A member of the education administration committee of the house of
58	58	representatives, who is appointed by the speaker of the house of
59	59	representatives;
60	60	(4) A member of the education committee of the senate, who is
61	61	appointed by the speaker of the senate;
62	62	(5) A member of the health committee of the house of representatives,
63	63	who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and
64	64	(6) A member of the health and welfare committee of the senate, who is
65	65	appointed by the speaker of the senate.
66	66
67	67
68	68	- 3 - 000092
69	69
70	70	(c) A member who is appointed pursuant to subdivision (b)(3), (b)(4), (b)(5), or
71	71	(b)(6) serves until their successor is appointed or the member no longer meets the
72	72	qualification to serve, whichever occurs first.
73	73	(d) The safe stars advisory committee shall:
74	74	(1) Develop a sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and warning signs
75	75	information sheet that includes information about electrocardiogram (EKG)
76	76	testing for purposes of § 49-6-3603. The information sheet must address the
77	77	benefits and limitations of EKG testing;
78	78	(2) Develop the guidelines and materials under subsection (a);
79	79	(3) Publish the guidelines and other materials developed pursuant to
80	80	subsection (a) on the department of education's and department of health's
81	81	websites; and
82	82	(4) Meet at least once each year to review and update, if necessary, the
83	83	guidelines and other materials developed pursuant to this section.
84	84	SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.