AB 1653: 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 programs 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 programs 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.