Adds to existing law to require public schools to adopt sudden cardiac arrest prevention training.
Summary
House Bill 313 adds a new section to Idaho education law to address sudden cardiac arrest prevention in school athletic activities. It requires the State Department of Education, working with the Idaho High School Activities Association, to develop educational guidelines and materials for students, parents or guardians, and coaches about sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and the risks of continuing to play after symptoms appear. The materials must include a symptom information sheet and a signed acknowledgment from the student and parent or guardian each school year before participation.
The bill also authorizes coaches to remove a student from play if the student shows symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest during or immediately after an athletic activity and the coach reasonably believes the symptoms are cardiac-related. A student removed under this provision cannot return until cleared in writing by an appropriate medical professional. In addition, every coach must complete a sudden cardiac arrest training course at least once every even-numbered school year, and coaches may not be eligible to coach until they complete the training. The bill includes a limited liability protection for coaches unless they act unreasonably in a grossly negligent or reckless manner, and it encourages youth athletic sponsors to follow the same guidance.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would amend Title 33 of the Idaho Code by creating Section 33-1637, imposing new statewide requirements on public school districts and public charter schools regarding athletic participation, parent/student acknowledgment forms, coach training, and return-to-play clearance after cardiac-related symptoms. It would also direct the Department of Education to publish and link to the relevant guidance and materials, and it references use of Simon’s Heart educational resources and the National Federation of State High School Associations training course or an approved equivalent. The act is declared an emergency and would take effect July 1, 2025.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill faced significant opposition on the House floor, where it failed third reading by a vote of 23 yeas to 43 nays. The bill’s subject matter indicates a public health and student safety focus, and the text itself is framed as a preventive measure for school athletics. However, the recorded vote shows that support was not broad enough to advance the measure in that chamber.
Contention
The main points of contention likely centered on whether the state should mandate annual acknowledgment forms, coach training requirements, and removal/return-to-play procedures for all school athletic programs, including cheerleading and club-affiliated sports. Another possible area of debate is the liability standard for coaches, since the bill grants protection except in cases of gross negligence or recklessness, which may have been viewed as either too protective or not protective enough. The requirement that coaches complete an outside training course and the administrative burden on schools and families may also have been disputed, especially given the bill’s failure on the House floor.