S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                 4826--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 6, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on  Education  -- recommitted to the Committee on Education in accord-
  ance with Assembly Rule  3,  sec.  2  --  committee  discharged,  bill
  amended,  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
  tee

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
amended  by  chapter  376  of  the  laws  of 2015, 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
subdivision three of section six thousand nine hundred two of this chap-
ter,  or  by  a  duly  licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse
practitioner, who is authorized to practice in the jurisdiction in which
the examination was given, provided that the commissioner has determined
that such jurisdiction has standards of licensure and practice  compara-
ble  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

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD01851-03-6
              

A. 4826--A                          2

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 multiplied by a conversion factor of 703.
Weight status categories  for  children  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 ELECTROCAR-
DIOGRAM, AND STATE WHETHER THE STUDENT IS FIT TO PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL
EDUCATION  OR  OTHER  PHYSICAL  OR  ATHLETIC  ACTIVITIES.  In all school
districts such physician,  physician  assistant  or  nurse  practitioner
shall determine whether a one-time test for sickle cell anemia is neces-
sary  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.