California Interscholastic Federation: pupil health: heat illness: guidelines.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about additional safety measures that must be implemented.

California Interscholastic Federation: Heat Illness Guidelines

This law requires the California Interscholastic Federation to revise guidelines for preventing heat illness in schools located in extreme desert climates within Region Category 3, allowing outdoor activities at a WBGT of up to 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit if additional safety measures are followed.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the CIF to revise guidelines by July 1, 2027, for schools in extreme desert climates within Region Category 3.
• Allows outdoor practices and contests up to a WBGT of 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit with additional safety measures.
• Defines eligibility for these schools based on objective climatic data.
• Permits raising the threshold above 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit if supported by updated research, but not lowering it below this point.
• Requires annual review and updates to guidelines, procedures, and safety standards.

Who It Names or Affects

• Schools located in extreme desert climates within Region Category 3 of the CIF.
• The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).

Terms To Know

Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)

A measure used to assess heat stress on humans, taking into account temperature, humidity, wind speed, and radiation.

Region Category 3

An area designated by the CIF for schools with specific climate conditions that affect outdoor activities.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what additional safety measures must be implemented.
• It is unclear how eligibility will be determined based on objective climatic data.

Official Summary Text

AB 2503, as amended, Wallis.
California Interscholastic Federation: pupil health: heat illness: guidelines.
Existing law describes the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) as a voluntary organization that consists of school and school-related personnel with responsibility for administering interscholastic athletic activities in secondary schools, and sets forth the Legislature’s intent regarding the CIF’s implementation of certain policies. Existing law requires the CIF, in consultation with the State Department of Education, to develop guidelines, procedures, and safety standards for the prevention and management of exertional heat illness.
Pursuant to that requirement, the CIF has established Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) thresholds for outdoor practices and contests, including, for among other regions, Region Category 3 where the CIF prohibits outdoor activities at WBGT readings exceeding 92 degrees Fahrenheit.
This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2027,
the CIF to revise those guidelines for schools located in extreme desert climates within Region Category 3 to (1) instead permit outdoor practices and contests up to a WBGT of 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit if additional safety measures are implemented and (2) define eligibility for those schools based on objective climatic data, as provided. The bill would authorize the threshold in the guidelines for those schools to be raised above a WBGT of 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit based on updated peer-reviewed research, but would prohibit the threshold from being lowered below a WBGT of 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
and annually thereafter, the CIF to review and update as necessary the guidelines, procedures, and safety standards, with special consideration for regions of the
state with higher average temperatures.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF