<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="7-436" title_number="7" title_name="Public Schools" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Health and Safety of Students">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Athletic activity” means:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Interscholastic athletics;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>An athletic contest or competition that is sponsored by or associated with a school; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Practices and scrimmages.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Athletic activity” includes cheerleading and sports sponsored by school–affiliated organizations.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Sudden cardiac arrest” means a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Youth sports program” means a program organized for recreational athletic competition or instruction for participants who are under the age of 19 years.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Nothing in this section may be construed to create, establish, expand, reduce, contract, or eliminate any civil liability on the part of a county board employee, school employee, or youth sports program volunteer.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department shall develop policies and implement a program to provide awareness to coaches, school personnel, students, and the parents or guardians of students, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health, each county board, the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association, the Maryland Athletic Trainers’ Association, Parent Heart Watch, and licensed health care providers who treat heart issues, on:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest, including fainting, difficulty breathing, chest pains, dizziness, and abnormal heart rate; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The risks associated with continuing to play or practice after experiencing a symptom of sudden cardiac arrest.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The program shall include a process to verify that a coach has received information on the program developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Before a student enrolled in a public school system in the State may participate in an authorized athletic activity, the county board shall provide a sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and warning signs information sheet to the student and a parent or guardian of the student.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The student and the parent or guardian of the student shall sign a statement acknowledging receipt of the information sheet.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The Department shall create the information sheet and acknowledgment statement required under this paragraph.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Department may use materials available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Parent Heart Watch, Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes Foundation, or any other appropriate entity to carry out the requirements of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A public school may hold an informational meeting before the start of each athletic season regarding the symptoms and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Before an individual participates in an authorized athletic activity on school property, the county board shall provide, or require that a third party provide:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Information on sudden cardiac arrest to the individual and, if applicable, a parent or guardian of the individual; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Notice that acknowledgment of the receipt of the information by the individual and, if applicable, the parent or guardian of the individual, is required.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The information required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be in the form of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A separate information sheet; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A notice on the registration form for a youth sports program stating that information on sudden cardiac arrest is available, including directions on how to receive the information electronically.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The individual and, if applicable, the parent or guardian of the individual shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Acknowledge receipt of the information by:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Signature;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Checking an acknowledgment box on the registration form; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Another method of written or electronic acknowledgment; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Return the acknowledgment to the county board or third party.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A youth sports program that uses a public school facility shall provide annually to the county board or the board’s agent a statement of intent to comply for all its athletic activities with the requirements of subsection (e) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A youth sports program that does not use a public school facility is encouraged to follow the guidelines of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
