Safe Stars Act

In May 2021, Tennessee passed the Safe Stars Act which establishes certain health and safety requirements in regard to school youth athletic activities. This bill went into effect for the 2022-2023 school year. Below is the bill summary taken from the Tennessee General Assembly website.

This bill revises and adds to the present law provisions regarding cardiac arrest and concussion prevention in athletics, as discussed below.

This bill requires that, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year for each LEA and public charter school that provides a youth athletic activity, the following safety standards be implemented:

(1) All coaches, whether employed by the LEA or public charter school or a volunteer, must: biennially complete the concussion recognition and head injury safety education course program and annually acknowledge in writing that the coach has completed the course as required by the provision discussed below; biennially complete the sudden cardiac arrest education program and annually acknowledge in writing that the coach completed the course as required by the provision discussed below; receive training in CPR and in the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs); and comply with all applicable background check and fingerprinting requirements of present law; and

(2) Each public school, including public charter schools, must implement for school youth athletic activities an allergy and anaphylaxis emergency response plan, an emergency action plan, and a severe weather policy. This bill specifies certain requirements for each plan.

Under this bill, each LEA and public charter school that provides a school youth athletic activity must develop a code of conduct for coaches; and is encouraged to visit the department of health's website to review the safety standards recommended for each level of recognition provided as part of the department's "Safe Stars Initiative" and to communicate with the department to ensure that all safety measures are up to date. Private schools that provide a school youth activity and community-based youth activities are encouraged to comply with the safety standards outlined in this provision and as described above.

This bill requires the department of education and the department of health to develop and post on the departments' respective websites guidelines and other relevant materials to inform and educate students, parents, and coaches about, among other information, the student's or parent's option to request, from the student's family medical provider, that an electrocardiogram (EKG) be administered in addition to the student's comprehensive initial pre-participation physical examination, at a cost to be incurred by the student or the student's parent. In developing the guidelines, the department may utilize materials developed by outside organizations.

This bill also requires the department of education, in collaboration with the department of health, to develop a sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and warning signs information sheet that includes information about EKG testing for purposes of the provision below. The information sheet must address the benefits and limitations of EKG testing.

This bill provides that a student participating in, or seeking to participate in, an athletic activity, and the student's parent or guardian must sign and return to the student's public school an acknowledgement of their receipt and review of a sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and warning signs information sheet developed by the department of education that includes information about EKG testing. The acknowledgement form must be signed and returned each year that a student participates in, or seeks to participate in, an athletic activity.

This bill requires each LEA and public charter school to hold an informational meeting before the start of each school athletic season for students, parents, coaches, and school officials to learn about the symptoms and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest; heat illness; concussions and other head injuries; and other health, safety, and wellness issues related to sports participation, and to receive information about EKG testing and each of the safety plans and policies implemented in the LEA pursuant this bill. Physicians, pediatric cardiologists, and athletic trainers may participate in the informational meeting.

This bill also revises the following present law provisions:

(1) Under present law, the governing authority of each public and nonpublic elementary school, middle school, junior high school, and high school, working through guidance approved by the department of health and communicated through the department of education, must at a minimum, among other things, require annual completion by all coaches, whether employed or volunteering, and by school athletic directors of:

(A) A sudden cardiac arrest education program approved by the department; and

(B) A concussion recognition and head injury safety education course program approved by the department.

This bill removes the requirement for athletic directors to complete either program above and requires the coaches, for both programs in items (1)(A) and (2)(B) above, to complete the program biennially, provided that all coaches complete the training no later than 90 days of start of employment or volunteer services, and biennially thereafter. This bill also requires the coach, after completion of the first program, to annually acknowledge in writing that the coach completed the course and understands the requirements and importance of the course.

(2) Present law provides that any city, county, business, or nonprofit organization that organizes a community-based youth athletic activity for which an activity fee is charged, working through guidance from the department of health, must at minimum, among other things, require annual completion by all coaches, whether employed or volunteering, a licensed health care professional if appointed, and as applicable, the director of the youth athletic activity of:

(A) A sudden cardiac arrest education program approved by the department; and

(B) A concussion recognition and head injury safety education course program developed by the department.

This bill, for both programs in items (2)(A) and (2)(B) above, requires the coaches and the licensed healthcare professional if appointed, to complete the program biennially, provided that such individual completes the training no later than 90 days of start of employment or volunteer services, and biennially thereafter. This bill also requires such individuals, after completion of the first program, to annually acknowledge in writing that the individual completed the course and understands the requirements and importance of the course. Under this bill, these same procedures apply for the director of the youth athletic activity but only for the program in item (2)(B) above.

ON APRIL 19, 2021, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1259, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 deletes the provisions of this bill that would revise present law provisions as described in the Bill Summary, changes from biennial to annual the frequency with which coaches will be required to undergo the training required by this bill, and authorizes LEAs and public charter schools to publish a video on their website in lieu of holding an annual informational meeting for students, parents, coaches, and school officials to learn about the symptoms and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest; heat illness; concussions and other head injuries; and other health, safety, and wellness issues related to sports participation, and to receive information about electrocardiogram (EKG) testing and each of the safety plans and policies implemented in the LEA.