Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 68.

This bill renames the "Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act," so that it is now to be known and cited as the "Smart Heart Law."<br /> <br /> Present law requires the governing authority of each public and nonpublic elementary, middle, junior high, and high school, working through guidance approved by the department of health and communicated through the department of education, to require annual completion by all coaches, whether the coach is employed or a volunteer, and by school athletic directors of a sudden cardiac arrest education program approved by the department of health ("department"). In developing the program, the department, at no cost to the state, may use materials and resources created by organizations, such as Simon's Fund, for the purpose of educating coaches about sudden cardiac arrest. The department shall make the sudden cardiac arrest education course program available on its website for any school to access free of charge.<br /> <br /> This bill adds to the above provision that the program must include training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) for all participants.<br /> <br /> This bill requires the governing authority of each public and nonpublic school that serves any of the grades 9-12 to maintain an automated external defibrillator (AED), that is accessible during the school day and during all school youth athletic activities in which students in any of the grades 9-12 are participating. An AED maintained pursuant to this provision must do as follows:<br /> <br /> (1) Be identified with signage;<br /> <br /> (2) Be located on-site of the school youth athletic activity or placed and made available in an unlocked location on school property that is within 1,000 feet of the site of the school youth athletic activity; and<br /> <br /> (3) Meet the requirements of state law relative to training in AED use and CPR.<br /> <br /> The governing authority of a public or nonpublic school may use an AED maintained by the governing authority.<br /> <br /> ATHLETICS EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN (AEAP) <br /> <br /> This bill requires, beginning September 1, 2024, the governing authority of each public and nonpublic school that serves any of the grades 9-12 to establish, review, and annually rehearse an AEAP for responding to serious or life-threatening injuries sustained by students participating in a school or a local education agency organized athletic activity when the majority of the participants are under 18, and are engaging in an organized athletic game or competition against another team, club, or entity or in practice or preparation for an organized game or competition against another team, club, or entity ("school youth athletic activity"). School youth athletic activity does not include college or university activities, an activity which is entered into for instructional purposes only, or an athletic activity that is incidental to a nonathletic program, or a lesson.<br /> <br /> This bill requires an AEAP to do the following:<br /> <br /> (1) Integrate nationally recognized, evidence-based core elements or standards;<br /> <br /> (2) Be memorialized as a written document, specific to the sites under the control of the school where school youth athletic activities are conducted;<br /> <br /> (3) Be developed in consultation with local emergency medical services personnel; and<br /> <br /> (4) Be distributed to all athletics staff members, school personnel identified in the AEAP , and healthcare professionals identified in the AEAP.<br /> <br /> The AEAP is also required to do the following, at minimum:<br /> <br /> (1) Identify the address or venue of each school youth athletic activity for the respective school year;<br /> <br /> (2) Identify the personnel in each school who are responsible for carrying out the AEAP, including their assigned responsibilities and the designated chain of command;<br /> <br /> (3) Identify any healthcare professionals who may provide medical care during school youth athletic activities;<br /> <br /> (4) Identify any equipment and supplies that may be needed to respond to a medical emergency at a school youth athletic activity, including the location of each item;<br /> <br /> (5) Describe the proper procedures to be followed after a serious or life-threatening injury occurs, including, but not limited to, responding to the injured individual, summoning emergency medical care, assisting emergency responders, and documenting the actions taken during the emergency; and<br /> <br /> (6) Provide contact information for emergency medical services and directions to assist emergency personnel in accessing the location of a school youth athletic activity.<br /> <br /> RULEMAKING<br /> <br /> The state board of education, in consultation with the department of health, is authorized to promulgate rules to effectuate this act. <br /> <br /> APPLICABILITY<br /> <br /> This act applies to the 2024-2025 school year and subsequent school years.<br />