Information about sudden cardiac arrest during youth athletic activities

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill requires the Department of Public Instruction, in consultation with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, to develop information, including an information sheet that may be distributed to participants, about the nature and risk of sudden cardiac arrest in youth athletic activities. The bill specifically requires that the information developed by DPI include information about 1) the risks associated with continuing to participate in a youth athletic activity after experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest symptom; 2) the potential risks and benefits of, and evidentiary basis for, electrocardiogram testing; and 3) requesting an electrocardiogram from a pupil's health care provider. Under the bill, a youth athletic activity is defined as an organized athletic activity in which the participants, a majority of whom are under 19 years of age, are engaged in an athletic game or competition against another team, club, or entity, or in practice or preparation for an organized athletic game or competition against another team, club, or entity. This is the definition in current law that applies to requirements for providing information related to the nature and risk of concussion and head injuries in youth athletic activities.

Under the bill, at the beginning of a youth athletic activity season, an operator of the youth athletic activity must distribute a sudden cardiac arrest information sheet to each person who wishes to participate in the activity. The bill prohibits a person from participating in a youth athletic activity until the person returns the information sheet signed by the person and, if the person is 18 years old or younger, the person's parent or guardian. However, the bill specifies that the sudden cardiac arrest information sheet must be submitted to a private or public school only once each school year and to a private club only once in the 365-day period before participating in the athletic activity rather than prior to participation in each athletic activity during the respective time period.

Who's behind it

12 representatives are its authors⁠. 10 are Republicans and 2 are Democrats.

14 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment Histories
• LC Amendment Memo