Background: Sudden cardiac death is the result of an unexpected failure of proper heart function that may occur during or immediately after exercise. It is reported that cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in youth athletes.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) is a private, nonprofit service organization and rulemaking body. WIAA consists of nearly 800 member high schools and middle or junior high schools, both public and private, and is divided into nine geographic service districts. WIAA staff administers policies, rules, and regulations and provides other assistance and service to member schools.

The University of Washington Center for Sports Cardiology aims to advance the cardiovascular care of athletes and physically active patients of all ages. This center is a collaboration between sports medicine and cardiology specialists to establish clinical and academic resources.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): The stated intent of the Legislature is to make youth athletes, their families, and coaches aware of sudden cardiac arrest.

Online Pamphlet. WIAA must work with member schools' board of directors, a nonprofit organization that educates communities about sudden cardiac arrest in youth athletes and the University of Washington Center for Sports Cardiology to develop and make available an online pamphlet that provides youth athletes, their parents or guardians, and coaches with information about sudden cardiac arrest. The online pamphlet must include information on the nature, risk, symptoms and warning signs, prevention, and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. The online pamphlet must be posted on the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's website.

Informational Meeting. School districts and private schools must hold an informational meeting at the beginning of each school year that reviews the nature, risk, symptoms and warning signs, prevention, and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. Youth athletes, their parents or guardians, coaches, athletic trainers, school and team physicians, school nurses, and other school officials may attend the meeting. Schools may collaborate with nonprofit organizations that educate communities about sudden cardiac arrest in youth athletes to hold the informational meeting. The informational meeting may be incorporated within other annual meetings.

Online Prevention Program for Coaches. WIAA must work with member schools' board of directors, an organization that provides educational training for safe participation in athletic activity, and the University of Washington Center for Sports Cardiology to make available an existing online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program for coaches.

Every three years prior to coaching an interscholastic athletic activity, coaches must complete the online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program. Coaches must provide a certificate showing completion of the online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program to the school.

Private Nonprofit Organizations. Private nonprofit organizations using school property must provide a statement of compliance with the policies for sudden cardiac awareness.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute): A requirement is added that private nonprofit groups must provide a statement of compliance with policies for sudden cardiac arrest awareness.

A requirement is added that WIAA must work with member schools' board of directors, a nonprofit organization that educates communities about sudden cardiac arrest in youth athletes, and the University of Washington Center for Sports Cardiology to develop and make available an online pamphlet that provides youth athletes, their parents or guardians, and coaches with information about sudden cardiac arrest.

A requirement is added that WIAA must work with member schools' board of directors, an organization that provides educational training for safe participation in athletic activity, and the University of Washington Center for Sports Cardiology to make available an existing online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program for coaches.

On a yearly basis, prior to participating in an interscholastic athletic activity, a sudden cardiac arrest form stating that the online pamphlet was reviewed must be signed by the youth athlete and the athlete's parents and/or guardian and returned to the school. Every three years, prior to coaching an interscholastic athletic activity, coaches must complete the online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program. Coaches must provide a certificate showing completion of the online sudden cardiac arrest prevention program to the school.

A provision is added that the informational meeting may be incorporated within other annual meetings. A requirement is added that private schools must hold an informational meeting regarding sudden cardiac arrest.

Changes made in wording and two definitions are removed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: PRO: The online prevention program for coaches takes 20 minutes. This bill will save young athletes' lives. This bill is important for parents and students, so that they can recognize signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest, which can be difficult to detect. The typical sports physical may not catch these signs and symptoms. Many parents, students, and coaches may not be aware of sudden cardiac arrest. We protect student athletes from concussions; we should also protect their hearts. Medical science has progressed to be able to recognize markers and symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest. There have been local efforts to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest. This bill would bring awareness to this issue statewide.

OTHER: This bill should go further. It should be modeled after the concussion bill and include private schools and private club sport programs if they play on public fields.