Assembly Bill A10293

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  10293

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              May 18, 2012
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Education

AN  ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring heart exam-
  inations for students

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 903 of the education law, as sepa-
rately  amended by section 11 of part B of chapter 58 and chapter 281 of
the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
  1. A health certificate shall be furnished  by  each  student  in  the
public  schools upon his or her entrance in such schools and upon his or
her entry into the grades prescribed by the commissioner in regulations,
provided that such regulations shall require such certificates at  least
twice during the elementary grades and twice in the secondary grades. An
examination and health history of any child may be required by the local
school authorities at any time in their discretion to promote the educa-
tional  interests  of  such child. Each certificate shall be signed by a
duly licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, who
is authorized by law to practice in this state, and consistent with  any
applicable  written practice agreement, or by a duly licensed physician,
physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, who is authorized  to  prac-
tice  in  the  jurisdiction in which the examination was given, provided
that the commissioner has determined that such jurisdiction  has  stand-
ards  of  licensure  and  practice comparable to those of New York. Each
such certificate shall describe the condition of the  student  when  the
examination  was  made, which shall not be more than twelve months prior
to the commencement of the school  year  in  which  the  examination  is
required,  and shall state whether such student is in a fit condition of
health to permit his or her attendance at the public schools. Each  such
certificate  shall  also  state  the student's body mass index (BMI) and
weight status category.  For purposes of this section, BMI  is  computed
as  the weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters or
the weight in pounds divided by the square of height  in  inches  multi-
plied  by a conversion factor of 703. Weight status categories for chil-

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD11586-01-1

A. 10293                            2

dren and adolescents shall be as defined by the commissioner of  health.
EACH  SUCH CERTIFICATE SHALL ALSO STATE THAT THE STUDENT HAS UNDERGONE A
HEART TEST, SUCH AS AN ELECTROCARDIOGRAM, AND STATE WHETHER THE  STUDENT
IS FIT TO PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION OR OTHER PHYSICAL OR ATHLET-
IC ACTIVITIES. In all school districts such physician, physician assist-
ant  or  nurse  practitioner shall determine whether a one-time test for
sickle cell anemia is necessary or desirable and he or she shall conduct
such a test and the certificate shall state the results.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.