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HB1803
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1803
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to student heat exposure
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that Hawaii has
experienced rising air temperatures, with annual peak averages consistently
breaking record highs.
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These increases,
combined with Hawaii's high average annual relative humidity, pose significant
challenges for human thermoregulation.
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The
legislature further finds that exercising in hot and humid weather can be
dangerous, as the body's ability to cool itself through sweating becomes less
effective under humid conditions.
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When
sweat cannot evaporate efficiently due to high moisture levels in the air, the
risk of heat-related illnesses increases.
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The
legislature also finds that children and younger athletes are particularly
vulnerable to exertional heat illness due to slower heat acclimatization,
reduced thermoregulation capabilities compared to adults, and external
pressures to exceed physical limits.
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Additionally, children often lack control over the timing and conditions
of outdoor activities, such as recess and sports practices, and may have
limited access to hydration during these activities.
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The
legislature additionally finds that wet-bulb globe temperature measurements are
widely recognized as the gold standard for assessing heat stress, as used by
the United States military, Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
National Collegiate Athletic Association, and professional sports
organizations.
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The
legislature further finds that in hot, high-risk areas of West Oahu, students
have already experienced severe heat-related illness during outdoor school
activities, including an incident requiring emergency medical care.
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In response to the urgency of this risk, a
public middle school and high school in West Oahu are piloting the use of
wet-bulb globe temperature thermometers during physical education and other
outdoor activities to guide safety decisions and collect localized data.
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Despite these known risks and the expectation
of increasing temperatures, Hawaii currently lacks statewide requirements for
managing extreme heat during outdoor school activities, leaving students at
risk of preventable heat-related illnesses.
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The
legislature notes that the Korey Stringer Institute, the nation's premier
academic research institution on exertional heat illness and athlete safety,
has recommended that Hawaii adopt comprehensive heat safety policies to protect
student athletes.
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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to:
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(1)
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Require the board of education to adopt a heat
acclimatization and practice policy, based on the Hawaii Athletic Trainers
Association's Hawaii High School Athletic Association Heat Acclimatization and
Practice Policy of 2017, for students in grades kindergarten to twelve in
department of education schools and public charter schools statewide; and
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(2)
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Appropriate funds for training and
implementation of the policy and for the purchase of wet-bulb globe temperature
thermometers for public schools.
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SECTION
2.
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Heat acclimatization and practice
policy; student activities.
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(a)
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The board of education shall adopt a heat
acclimatization and practice policy to be applicable at all department of
education schools and charter schools in the State for grades kindergarten to
twelve.
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(b)
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The policy required by subsection (a) shall
be based, to the extent practicable, on the Hawaii Athletic Trainers
Association's Hawaii High School Athletic Association Heat Acclimatization and
Practice Policy of 2017; provided that at a minimum, the board of education
policy shall include:
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(1)
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Thresholds for modifying, postponing, or
canceling activities based on wet-bulb glove temperature measurements;
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(2)
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The minimum time before activities at which a
wet-bulb globe temperature measurement must be taken and the frequency of
additional measurements once activities have begun;
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(3)
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A requirement that wet-bulb globe temperature
measurements occur onsite at the school campus or location where the activity
shall take place;
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(4)
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Protocols for ensuring adequate hydration
during activities;
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(5)
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Training for school staff on recognizing and
responding to symptoms of exertional heat illness;
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(6)
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Measures to safeguard students with medical
conditions or medications that impair thermoregulation; and
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(7)
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Requirements for acclimatizing or
reacclimatizing students to return to activities after a period of absence.
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(c)
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In implementing the policy required by
subsection (a), the department of education and each charter school shall
ensure that the policy:
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(1)
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Is utilized for conducting, scheduling, and
the implementing the modification or cancelation of sports conditioning
practices, games, and recess; and
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(2)
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Uses, as the standard for measuring heat
stress, wet-bulb globe temperature standards that are consistent with the
wet-bulb globe temperature component of the policy.
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(d)
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As the Hawaii Athletics Trainers Association,
or a successor organization, may issue updates to the Hawaii Athletic Trainers
Association's Hawaii High School Athletic Association Heat Acclimatization and
Practice Policy of 2017 from time to time, the board of education shall update
to its policy with any applicable updates as soon as practicable.
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Nothing in this section shall prohibit the
department of education or a charter school from implementing its own
procedures to address applicable updates to the Hawaii Athletic Trainers
Association's Hawaii High School Athletic Association Heat Acclimatization and
Practice Policy of 2017, as amended, until such time the board of education
amends its policy.
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(e)
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The board of education may adopt rules
pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to implement this section.
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SECTION
3.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $15,000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the department of education
for training and implementation of the policy adopted by the board of education
pursuant to section 2 of this Act.
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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes
of this Act.
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SECTION
4.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $15,000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the public charter school
commission for the training and implementation of the policy adopted by the
board of education pursuant to section 2 of this Act.
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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the state public charter school commission
for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION
5.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $143,000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to provide wet-bulb globe
temperature thermometers to all department of education schools statewide;
provided that the devices shall meet or exceed the performance specifications
model identified by the Korey Stringer Institute as the gold standard for
scholastic heat safety, or any successor recommendation, or an equivalent
device as determined by the department of education.
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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes
of this Act.
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SECTION
6.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $22,000 so much thereof as
may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to provide wet-bulb globe
temperature thermometers to all public charter schools statewide; provided that
the devices shall meet or exceed the performance specifications model
identified by the Korey Stringer Institute as the gold standard for scholastic
heat safety, or any successor recommendation, or an equivalent device as
determined by the state public charter school commission.
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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the state public charter school commission
for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 7.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
BOE; DOE;
Charter Schools; Heat Exposure; Physical Activities; Policy; Appropriations
Description:
Requires
the Board of Education to adopt a heat acclimatization and practice policy
based on the Hawaii Athletic Trainers Association's Hawaii High School Athletic
Association Heat Acclimatization and Practice Policy of 2017 for students in
grades kindergarten to twelve in Department of Education schools and public
charter schools statewide for certain physical activities.
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Appropriates funds.
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.