Bill > HB837

This bill mandates that beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, physical examinations for students participating in interscholastic sports, which are athletic activities like try-outs, practices, or contests for school teams, must include a cardiovascular prescreening. Cardiovascular prescreening is defined as a set of tests and examinations, including a targeted personal and family history and a physical exam based on national guidelines, designed to assess heart health and identify potential heart problems before symptoms appear. Healthcare providers performing these examinations will be required to conduct this prescreening within 90 days before the start of the school year in which the student plans to participate. If a prescreening reveals a positive finding, the healthcare provider should consider referring the student to a cardiologist for further evaluation. The bill also directs the Department of Education, in consultation with the Maryland Department of Health, to develop guidelines to educate healthcare providers on cardiovascular prescreening, including how to conduct it, identify early signs of cardiac arrest, and manage positive findings. Public schools will be required to report data on the number of students undergoing physicals, those receiving cardiovascular prescreenings, and those referred to cardiologists, with this information being compiled and reported by the Maryland Department of Health annually. Additionally, the bill amends existing law to include nonpublic schools with a certificate of approval in the requirements for sudden cardiac arrest awareness and information dissemination to students and parents, and expands the definition of a "youth athlete" to include those participating in athletic activities at facilities of such nonpublic schools.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0837?ys=2026RS