Senate Bill S3503

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S3503

SPONSOR: WEIK
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring yearly
cardiac fitness certificates including an electrocardiogram or echocar-
diogram for interscholastic athletes in all public schools

 
PURPOSE:

Requires yearly cardiac fitness certificates for interscholastic
athletes in all public schools.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 903-a to
read as follows: § 903-a. Cardiac fitness certificate. A cardiac fitness
certificate shall be furnished by each student in public schools before
such student is permitted to participate in interscholastic athletics.
Each such 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
sixty-nine hundred two of this chapter, 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 cardiac fitness of the student when
the examination was made, which shall not be more than twelve months
prior to the commencement of the interscholastic athletic season and
shall state whether such student has any heart conditions and if such
heart conditions could result in severe adverse health outcomes during
athletic activity. Such physician, physician assistant or nurse practi-
tioner shall conduct an electrocardiogram, or an echocardiogram and the
certificate shall state the results.

Section 2. Sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Connor Kasin, a Massapequa High School student athlete, recently passed
away while playing with his team in a charity hockey game.  Initially
the cause of death was unknown, however, it was later discovered that
Connor had an unknown underlying heart condition.  This unforeseen trag-
edy may have been prevented if "Connor's Law" was in effect today which
would require heart screenings for student athletes as part of New York
State's mandatory health exam in order to participate in school sports.
Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD), although rare in occurrence, is the leading
cause of death amongst student athletes in the United States. The Elec-
trocardiogram (ECG/EKG) measures the heart's electrical activity. This
can help doctors tell how the heart is working and identify any prob-
lems. An Echocardiogram is prescribed when the ECG/EKG shows any abnor-
mal heart rhythms or particular findings during the patient's physical
examination.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
upon which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addi-
tion, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for
the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to
be made and completed on or before such date.