HB970: HB970 Quality Basic Education Act; expand which healthcare professionals may conduct preparticipation physical examinations

26 LC 65 0051S House Bill 970 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE) By: Representatives Townsend of the 179th, Washburn of the 144th, O’Steen of the 169th, Rice of the 139th, Hagan of the 156th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O fficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to other educational programs relative to the "Quality Basic Education2 Act," so as to expand which healthcare professionals may conduct preparticipation physical3 examinations; to provide for the period of validity for such ex aminations; to require4 healthcare professionals to include a cardiovascular prescreeni ng as part of such5 examinations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflic ting laws; and for other6 purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official C ode of Georgia Annotated,10 relating to other educational programs relative to the "Quality Basic Education Act," is11 amended in Code Section 20-2-319.2, relating to the school interscholastic extracurricular12 athletic policy providing for the use of a single, comprehensiv e, preparticipation physical13 examination form, by revising subsection (c) and by adding a ne w subsection to read as14 follows:15 H. B. 970 (SUB) - 1 - 26 LC 65 0051S "(c) When a school or school district has a policy which requires students who participate16 in extracurricular sports to have a physical examination prior to participation, the The17 person conducting the physical exa mination provided for in the policy developed under18 subsection (a) of this Code section shall be a qualified healthcare professional, including19 a licensed medical physician, doctor of osteopathic medicine, n urse practitioner, or20 physician's assistant in accordance with Code Section 43-34-103, and shall use the State21 Board of Education approved form pursuant to subsection subsections (d) and (e) of this22 Code section, provided that the form may at the option of the local board include additional23 elements. Physical examinations shall be valid for 12 months fr om the date of the24 examination, or, if conducted on or after April 1 of the year preceding the applicable school25 year, shall remain valid through such applicable school year."26 "(e) Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, a qualified health care professional who27 performs a physical examination of a student athlete shall include in such examination a28 cardiovascular prescreening that follows nationally recognized, evidence based guidelines29 recommended by the American College of Cardiology, American Hea rt Association, or30 other nationally recognized organization focused on evidence based cardiovascular care.31 Educational materials that provide information about causes of sudden cardiac arrest in32 children that follow evidence based science shall be distributed by the school to parents or33 guardians of students participating in school sports as part of a student's preparticipation34 physical examination and completion of athletic permission forms."35 SECTION 2.36 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.37 H. B. 970 (SUB) - 2 -