H.B. No. 76

	AN ACT
	relating to cardiac assessments of high school participants in
	extracurricular athletic activities sponsored or sanctioned by the
	University Interscholastic League.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 33.096 to read as follows:
	Sec. 33.096.  CARDIAC ASSESSMENTS OF HIGH SCHOOL
	PARTICIPANTS IN EXTRACURRICULAR ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES. (a) A school
	district must provide a district student, who is required under
	University Interscholastic League rule or policy to receive a
	physical examination before being allowed to participate in an
	athletic activity sponsored or sanctioned by the University
	Interscholastic League, the following:
	(1)  information about sudden cardiac arrest and
	electrocardiogram testing; and
	(2)  notification of the option of the student to
	request the administration of an electrocardiogram, in addition to
	the physical examination.
	(b)  A student may request an electrocardiogram from any
	health care professional, including a health care professional
	provided through the student's patient-centered medical home, as
	defined by Section 533.0029, Government Code, a health care
	professional provided through a school district program, or another
	health care professional chosen by the parent or person standing in
	parental relation to the student, 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, as established by the health care professional's Texas
	licensing act.
	(c)  The University Interscholastic League shall adopt rules
	as necessary to administer this section.
	(d)  The rules adopted under Subsection (c) must include:
	(1)  criteria under which a school district may request
	an exemption from the requirements of Subsection (a);
	(2)  variances that allow for a delay of the
	implementation of the requirement to notify students of the option
	to request an electrocardiogram under this section;
	(3)  procedures to ensure students receiving the
	required annual physical examination are notified of the option to
	request an electrocardiogram; and
	(4)  provisions to ensure that the requirements under
	this section are minimum standards that provide a school district
	with the option to implement a program that exceeds the standards
	required by this section.
	(e)  This section does not create a cause of action or
	liability or a standard of care, obligation, or duty that provides a
	basis for a cause of action or liability against a health care
	professional described by Subsection (b), the University
	Interscholastic League, a school district, or a district officer or
	employee for:
	(1)  the injury or death of a student participating in
	or practicing for an athletic activity sponsored or sanctioned by
	the University Interscholastic League based on or in connection
	with the administration or interpretation of or reliance on an
	electrocardiogram; or
	(2)  the content or distribution of the information
	required under Subsection (a) or the failure to distribute the
	required information under this section.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
	school year.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately 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 immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 76 was passed by the House on March
	26, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, 1 present, not
	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
	No. 76 on May 23, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 0, 1
	present, not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 76 was passed by the Senate, with
	amendments, on May 20, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 20, Nays
	11.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date
	__________________
	Governor