Establishes the "Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act"
HB852 establishes the “Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act” and applies it to student athletes participating in athletic activities at public and private schools serving kindergarten through grade 12. The bill directs the State Board of Education to adopt guidelines to educate student athletes, parents or guardians, and coaches about the warning signs and risks of sudden cardiac arrest, and to develop an informational sheet that must be provided to student athletes. Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, student athletes and a parent or guardian must sign an annual acknowledgment form confirming receipt and review of the information before participation in school athletic activities.
The bill also requires coaches of covered athletic activities to complete an annual cardiac arrest training course approved by the board and coordinated with existing CPR and AED training requirements. Coaches may not participate in practices or competitions until the training is completed. In addition, the bill authorizes athletic trainers, coaches, or other responsible parties to remove a student athlete from play if cardiac-related symptoms are observed, requires an attempt to notify a parent or guardian, and prohibits return to play until the athlete is evaluated by an appropriate medical professional and receives written clearance.
HB852 would add a new section to Chapter 160, RSMo, creating statewide requirements for school-based athletic programs related to sudden cardiac arrest education, coach training, athlete acknowledgment forms, and return-to-play procedures. It affects public and private K-12 schools, the State Board of Education, MSHSAA member schools, coaches, athletic trainers, student athletes, and parents or guardians. The bill expressly does not require sponsors of recreational youth athletic activities to follow the guidelines, limiting its reach to school-associated athletics rather than all youth sports.
The bill appears generally preventive and safety-oriented, with its structure focused on education, training, and emergency response for student athletes. Although no committee transcript or recorded vote is provided, the bill’s caption and provisions suggest a broad public-health rationale aimed at reducing the risk of catastrophic outcomes from undetected cardiac conditions during sports participation. The absence of recorded opposition in the provided materials leaves the overall sentiment as cautiously favorable or at least noncontroversial on its face.
The main points of potential contention are the administrative and compliance burdens placed on schools, coaches, and families, including annual training requirements, annual signed acknowledgments, and documentation storage in online eligibility systems. Another possible issue is the bill’s reliance on state board and MSHSAA-developed materials, which could raise questions about implementation details, training content, and costs. The exemption for recreational youth sports may also be notable, as it limits the bill’s protections to school-related activities and could be viewed as either a practical boundary or an incomplete approach to youth athlete safety.