Bill > HB852

This bill establishes the "Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act" to enhance student athlete safety by requiring the state board of education and the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) to develop comprehensive guidelines for preventing and recognizing sudden cardiac arrest. The legislation mandates that starting in the 2025-26 school year, student athletes and their parents must sign an acknowledgment form about cardiac arrest warning signs before participating in athletic activities. Coaches will be required to complete an annual cardiac arrest training course, which will be correlated with existing CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. The bill defines athletic activities broadly, including interscholastic sports, club-sponsored sports, and competitive cheerleading. It also provides protocols for removing a student athlete from play if they exhibit potential cardiac-related symptoms and requires medical clearance before they can return to the activity. An important provision allows the board to use educational materials from Simon's Heart, a nonprofit organization focused on youth heart health, and requires these guidelines to be posted publicly. The bill explicitly states that recreational youth athletic activity sponsors are not required to follow these guidelines, focusing instead on school-based athletic programs.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB852&year=2025&code=R