89R14420 RDR-D
By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 3596
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to prevention of and safety requirements regarding sudden
cardiac arrest affecting public school students participating in
interscholastic athletics.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as Cody's Law.
SECTION 2. Chapter 38, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter D-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D-1. PREVENTION OF AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS REGARDING
SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST AFFECTING STUDENT ATHLETES
Sec. 38.181. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Athletic trainer" has the meaning assigned by
Section 451.001, Occupations Code.
(2) "Coach" includes an assistant coach.
(3) "League" means the University Interscholastic
League.
(4) "Parent" includes a guardian or other person with
legal authority to make medical decisions for a student.
(5) "Physician" means a person who holds a license to
practice medicine in this state.
Sec. 38.182. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies to an
interscholastic athletic activity, including practice and
competition, sponsored or sanctioned by:
(1) a school district and any school for which a
charter has been granted under Chapter 12; or
(2) the league.
Sec. 38.183. WEBSITE INFORMATION. (a) The agency shall
develop guidelines and other relevant materials, in accordance with
this section, to educate students, parents, teachers, nurses, and
coaches regarding sudden cardiac arrest, including:
(1) warning signs and symptoms, including:
(A) fainting or seizures during athletic
activity;
(B) difficulty breathing;
(C) chest pains;
(D) dizziness;
(E) abnormal racing heart rate; and
(F) extreme fatigue; and
(2) risks associated with continuing athletic
activity after experiencing a warning sign or symptom of sudden
cardiac arrest.
(b) In developing the guidelines and other materials under
Subsection (a), the agency may use educational videos and other
resources available at no cost.
(c) The agency shall post on the agency's Internet website
the guidelines and other materials developed under Subsection (a).
Sec. 38.184. REQUIRED ANNUAL FORM ACKNOWLEDGING SUDDEN
CARDIAC ARREST INFORMATION. (a) In addition to satisfying the
requirements under Section 38.186, a student may not participate in
an interscholastic athletic activity for a school year until both
the student and the student's parent have signed and submitted to
the school district or charter school in which the student is
enrolled a form for that school year that acknowledges receiving
and reading written information that:
(1) explains:
(A) sudden cardiac arrest warning signs and
symptoms; and
(B) electrocardiogram screening;
(2) provides notice of the requirement for the student
to receive an electrocardiogram in addition to a physical
examination; and
(3) is consistent with the information in the
materials developed and posted under Section 38.183.
(b) The form required under Subsection (a) must be approved
by the league.
(c) A school district or charter school shall retain a form
submitted under Subsection (a) for the school year for which the
student participates in an interscholastic athletic activity.
Sec. 38.185. INFORMATIONAL MEETING. Before the start of
each athletic season, a school district or charter school may hold
an informational meeting regarding the warning signs and symptoms
of sudden cardiac arrest for students, parents, coaches, and other
school employees. The district or school may invite a physician,
including a pediatric cardiologist, or athletic trainer to present
information at the meeting.
Sec. 38.186. REQUIRED ELECTROCARDIOGRAM. (a) Except as
provided by Subsection (b), a student may not participate in an
interscholastic athletic activity for a school year unless the
student receives an electrocardiogram from a health care
professional, including a health care professional provided
through the student's patient-centered medical home, as defined by
Section 540.0712, Government Code, a health care professional
provided through a school district or charter school program, or
another health care professional chosen by the parent, provided
that the health care professional is:
(1) appropriately licensed in this state; and
(2) authorized to administer and interpret
electrocardiograms under the health care professional's scope of
practice.
(b) A student is not required to comply with Subsection (a)
if:
(1) the student's parent submits a signed form
indicating that the parent authorizes the student to decline an
electrocardiogram; or
(2) the student signs and submits the form described
by Subdivision (1) on the student's own behalf if the student is 18
years of age or older or the student's disabilities of minority have
been removed for general purposes under Chapter 31, Family Code.
(c) A school district or charter school shall use a form
approved by the league for purposes of Subsection (b). The form
must:
(1) provide the student or the student's parent, as
applicable, the opportunity to decline an electrocardiogram, as
provided by Subsection (b); and
(2) be made available in English, Spanish, and any
other language spoken by a majority of the students enrolled in a
bilingual education or special language program under Subchapter B,
Chapter 29, in the district or school.
(d) A school district or charter school shall retain a form
submitted under Subsection (b) for the school year for which the
student participates in an interscholastic athletic activity.
Sec. 38.187. REMOVAL AND PREVENTION FROM PLAY IN PRACTICE
OR COMPETITION FOLLOWING SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST WARNING SIGN OR
SYMPTOM. (a) A student shall be removed from an interscholastic
athletic practice or competition immediately if any of the
following persons determines that the student has lost
consciousness during the practice or competition:
(1) a coach;
(2) a physician;
(3) a licensed health care professional;
(4) a school nurse; or
(5) the student's parent.
(b) A student may be removed from an interscholastic
athletic practice or competition by a person listed in Subsection
(a) if the person determines that the student has exhibited a
warning sign or symptom of sudden cardiac arrest other than the loss
of consciousness as described by Sections 38.183(a)(1)(B)-(F).
(c) Subject to Section 38.188, if a person listed in
Subsection (a) knows that a student has lost consciousness at any
time during or immediately following an interscholastic athletic
practice or competition, the student shall be prevented from
participating in any further practice or competition.
(d) Subject to Section 38.188, if a person listed in
Subsection (a) knows that a student has exhibited a warning sign or
symptom of sudden cardiac arrest other than the loss of
consciousness at any time during or immediately following an
interscholastic athletic practice or competition, the student may
be prevented from participating in any further practice or
competition.
Sec. 38.188. RETURN TO PLAY IN PRACTICE OR COMPETITION. A
student removed from or prevented from participating in an
interscholastic athletic practice or competition under Section
38.187 may not be permitted to practice or compete again until:
(1) the student has been evaluated by:
(A) a physician;
(B) a licensed health care professional; or
(C) a school nurse; and
(2) the evaluating health care provider has provided a
written statement indicating that, in the provider's professional
judgment, it is safe for the student to return to play.
Sec. 38.189. TRAINING COURSES. (a) The league shall
approve for coaches of interscholastic athletic activities
training courses that provide for training in the subject matter of
sudden cardiac arrest, including prevention, warning signs and
symptoms, risks, and long-term effects.
(b) A coach may not coach an interscholastic athletic
activity for a school year until the coach has completed a training
course approved under Subsection (a).
(c) A coach must submit proof of timely completion of an
approved course in compliance with Subsection (b) to the school
district superintendent or the superintendent's designee or, in the
case of a charter school, a person who serves the function of a
superintendent or that person's designee.
Sec. 38.190. INFORMATIONAL SHEET. (a) The agency shall
develop and make available to each school district and charter
school an informational sheet comprised of information consistent
with the information in the materials developed and posted under
Section 38.183.
(b) A school district or charter school shall provide a copy
of the informational sheet developed under Subsection (a) to each
newly hired teacher, school nurse, and coach.
Sec. 38.191. IMMUNITY. This subchapter does not:
(1) waive any immunity from liability of a school
district or charter school or of district or school officers or
employees;
(2) create any liability for a cause of action against
a school district or charter school or against district or charter
school officers or employees; or
(3) waive any immunity from liability under Section
74.151, Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
Sec. 38.192. RULES. The commissioner and the league may
adopt rules as necessary to administer this subchapter.
SECTION 3. Section 33.096, Education Code, is repealed.
SECTION 4. Subchapter D-1, Chapter 38, Education Code, as
added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school
year.
SECTION 5. Notwithstanding Section 38.189, Education Code,
as added by this Act, a coach required under that section to take a
training course in the subject of sudden cardiac arrest must
initially complete the training course not later than September 1,
2026.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect June 1, 2025, if it
receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for effect on that
date, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.