A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to require the development and implementation of a safety and training program for the prevention and treatment of exertional heat illness in students.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  The Department of Public Instruction (DPI), in consultation with the North Carolina Athletic Trainers' Association (NCATA), the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS), the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA), the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association (NCISAA), and the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI), shall develop a safety training and education program for the prevention and treatment of exertional heat illness (EHI) in students. The program shall be developed for use by coaches, school nurses, athletic directors, first responders, volunteers, club directors, band directors, physical educators, wellness directors, students who participate in athletic activities or extracurricular activities involving physical exertion, and the parents of those students.
SECTION 1.(b)  The program shall include at least the following:
(1)	Written information detailing the recognition of the signs and symptoms of EHI.
(2)	A description of recommended training and the prevention techniques to decrease the occurrence of EHI.
(3)	An emergency medical protocol for recognizing and treating EHI, including identifying the correct equipment, supplies, and procedures for school personnel and parents.
(4)	Requirements for a student's return to participation in an athletic activity or extracurricular activity involving physical exertion.
SECTION 2.  G.S. 115C‑47(4) reads as rewritten:
"(4)	To Regulate Extracurricular Activities. – Local boards of education shall make all rules and regulations necessary for the conducting of extracurricular activities in the schools under their supervision, including a program of athletics, where desired, without assuming liability therefor; provided, that all interscholastic athletic activities shall be conducted in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the State Board of Education. Local boards of education shall require in their local school administrative units the implementation of the safety training and education program developed by the Department of Public Instruction to prevent and treat exertional heat illness (EHI) for students participating in athletics or extracurricular activities involving physical exertion. Local boards shall also require the following as part of the program:
a.	All coaches, school nurses, athletic directors, first responders, volunteers, club directors, band directors, physical educators, wellness directors, students who participate in athletic activities or extracurricular activities involving physical exertion, and the parents of those students shall receive, on an annual basis, an information sheet on EHI. Parents must sign an acknowledgement form of the receipt of the information and return it to school employees before their children can participate in athletic activities or extracurricular activities involving physical exertion, including classes, tryouts, practices, events, or competition. The signed sheets shall be maintained in accordance with sub‑subdivision d. of this subdivision.
b.	If a student participating in an athletic activity or extracurricular activity involving physical exertion exhibits signs or symptoms consistent with EHI, the student shall be removed from the activity at that time, provided emergency treatment if necessary, and shall not be allowed to return to play or practice that day. The student shall not return to an activity involving physical exertion on a subsequent day until the student is evaluated by and receives written clearance for such participation from (i) a physician licensed under Article 1 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes with training in the management of EHI, (ii) an athletic trainer licensed under Article 34 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes, (iii) a physician assistant, consistent with the limitations of G.S. 90‑18.1, or (iv) a nurse practitioner, consistent with the limitations of G.S. 90‑18.2.
c.	Each school shall develop a venue specific emergency action plan to deal with serious illness and acute medical conditions in which the condition of a student may deteriorate rapidly. The plan shall include a delineation of roles, methods of communication, available emergency equipment, and access to and plan for emergency transport. This plan must be (i) in writing, (ii) reviewed by an athletic trainer licensed in North Carolina, (iii) approved by the principal of the school, (iv) distributed to all appropriate personnel and volunteers, (v) posted conspicuously at all venues, and (vi) reviewed and rehearsed annually by all licensed athletic trainers, coaches, school nurses, athletic directors, first responders, appropriate volunteers, club directors, band directors, physical educators, and wellness directors involved in student athletics or extracurricular activities for students involving physical exertion.
d.	Each school shall maintain complete and accurate records of its compliance with the requirements of this subdivision pertaining to EHI."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 115C‑238.29F(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Health and Safety Standards. – A charter school shall meet the same health and safety requirements required of a local school administrative unit. The Department of Public Instruction shall ensure that charter schools provide parents and guardians with information about meningococcal meningitis and influenza and their vaccines at the beginning of every school year. This information shall include the causes, symptoms, and how meningococcal meningitis and influenza are spread and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children.
The Department of Public Instruction shall also ensure that charter schools provide parents and guardians with information about cervical cancer, cervical dysplasia, human papillomavirus, and the vaccines available to prevent these diseases. This information shall be provided at the beginning of the school year to parents of children entering grades five though [through] 12. This information shall include the causes and symptoms of these diseases, how they are transmitted, how they may be prevented by vaccination, including the benefits and possible side effects of vaccination, and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children.
The Department of Public Instruction shall also ensure that charter schools receive the safety training and education program developed by the Department of Public Instruction to prevent and treat exertional heat illness (EHI) in students participating in athletics or extracurricular activities involving physical exertion.
The Department of Public Instruction shall also ensure that charter schools provide students in grades nine through 12 with information annually on the manner in which a parent may lawfully abandon a newborn baby with a responsible person, in accordance with G.S. 7B‑500.
The Department of Public Instruction shall also ensure that the guidelines for individual diabetes care plans adopted by the State Board of Education under G.S. 115C‑12(31) are implemented in charter schools in which students with diabetes are enrolled and that charter schools otherwise comply with the provisions of G.S. 115C‑375.3."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 115C‑548 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑548.  Attendance; health and safety regulations.
Each private church school or school of religious charter shall make, and maintain annual attendance and disease immunization records for each pupil enrolled and regularly attending classes. Attendance by a child at any school to which this Part relates and which complies with this Part shall satisfy the requirements of compulsory school attendance so long as the school operates on a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, during at least nine calendar months of the year. Each school shall be subject to reasonable fire, health and safety inspections by State, county and municipal authorities as required by law.
The Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration, shall ensure that materials are provided to these schools so that they can provide parents and guardians with information about meningococcal meningitis and influenza and their vaccines at the beginning of every school year. This information may be provided electronically or on the Division's Web page. This information shall include the causes, symptoms, and how meningococcal meningitis and influenza are spread and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children.
The Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration, shall also ensure that materials are provided to these schools so that they can provide parents and guardians with information about cervical cancer, cervical dysplasia, human papillomavirus, and the vaccines available to prevent these diseases. This information may be provided electronically or on the Division's Web page. This information shall include the causes and symptoms of these diseases, how they are transmitted, how they may be prevented by vaccination, including the benefits and possible side effects of vaccination, and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children.
The Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration, shall also ensure that information is available to these schools on the safety training and education program developed by the Department of Public Instruction to prevent and treat exertional heat illness (EHI) in students participating in athletics or extracurricular activities involving physical exertion.
The Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration, shall also ensure that information is available to these schools so that they can provide information on the manner in which a parent may lawfully abandon a newborn baby with a responsible person, in accordance with G.S. 7B‑500."
SECTION 5.  G.S. 115C‑556 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑556.  Attendance; health and safety regulations.
Each qualified nonpublic school shall make, and maintain annual attendance and disease immunization records for each pupil enrolled and regularly attending classes. Attendance by a child at any school to which this Part relates and which complies with this Part shall satisfy the requirements of compulsory school attendance so long as the school operates on a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, during at least nine calendar months of the year. Each school shall be subject to reasonable fire, health and safety inspections by State, county and municipal authorities as required by law.
The Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration, shall ensure that materials are provided to each qualified nonpublic school so that the school can provide parents and guardians with information about meningococcal meningitis and influenza and their vaccines at the beginning of every school year. This information may be provided electronically or on the Division's Web page. This information shall include the causes, symptoms, and how meningococcal meningitis and influenza are spread and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children.
The Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration, shall also ensure that materials are provided to each qualified nonpublic school so that the school can provide parents and guardians with information about cervical cancer, cervical dysplasia, human papillomavirus, and the vaccines available to prevent these diseases. This information may be provided electronically or on the Division's Web page. This information shall include the causes and symptoms of these diseases, how they are transmitted, how they may be prevented by vaccination, including the benefits and possible side effects of vaccination, and the places where parents and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children.
The Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration, shall also ensure that information is available to each qualified nonpublic school so that the school can provide parents with information on the safety training and education program developed by the Department of Public Instruction to prevent and treat exertional heat illness (EHI) in students participating in athletics or extracurricular activities involving physical exertion.
The Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration, shall also ensure that information is available to each qualified nonpublic school so that the school can provide information on the manner in which a parent may lawfully abandon a newborn baby with a responsible person, in accordance with G.S. 7B‑500."
SECTION 6.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2014‑2015 school year.