AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE CHILDREN'S CARDIAC SAFETY ACT (Establishes "The Children's Cardiac Safety Act", and provide for childhood cardiac screening based on modules that incorporate current best practices.)

H7480

2026 -- H 7480
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE CHILDREN'S CARDIAC SAFETY ACT

Introduced By:
Representative Lauren H. Carson

Date Introduced:
February 04, 2026

Referred To:
House Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by
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adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 91.2
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THE CHILDREN'S CARDIAC SAFETY ACT
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16-91.2-1. Title.
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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "The Children's Cardiac Safety Act".

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16-91.2-2. Definitions.
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As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings,
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unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
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(1) "Commissioner" or "education commissioner" means the commissioner of elementary
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and secondary education as described in §16-60-6.
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(2) "Healthcare professional" means a physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician
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assistant.
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(3) "School district" includes all traditional public schools as well as charter public schools
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and mayoral academies.
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16-91.2-3. Annual examinations.
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A registered, licensed, and certified healthcare professional who performs an annual
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physical examination of a child nineteen (19) years of age or younger shall include a cardiovascular
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prescreening that follows nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines recommended by

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organizations focused on cardiovascular care in pediatric populations. Key pre-screening elements
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shall include a targeted personal history and family history and focused physical examination to
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detect or raise suspicion for cardiovascular disease. The healthcare professional who performs the
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annual physical examination shall refer the child with positive findings to a cardiologist for further
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evaluation and testing.
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16-91.2-4. Guidance provided.
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(a) The department of elementary and secondary education and the department of health
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shall collaborate and work in conjunction and set forth guidance to both public and private schools
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and require that prior to the participation of any student enrolled in grades kindergarten through
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twelve (12) on a school or community organization sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic
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team or squad, the student shall have a physical examination to detect or raise suspicion of
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cardiovascular disease and submit a preparticipation physical evaluation form certified by the
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examining healthcare provider attesting to completion of the examination.
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(b) This physical examination shall be conducted within twelve (12) months prior to the
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first day of official practice in an athletic season and shall be conducted by a registered, licensed,
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and certified healthcare professional. The physical examination may be done as part of the student
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athlete’s annual well-child visit.
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(c) A school committee or board of education of a public school district and the governing
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board or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school shall not permit a student enrolled in
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grades kindergarten through twelve (12) to participate on a school or community-based
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organization sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad unless the student has
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completed the examination provided in subsection (a) of this section and submitted a
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preparticipation physical evaluation form.
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16-91.2-5. Single form.
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The department of health shall create a single form to be utilized in all preparticipation
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physical evaluations statewide.
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16-91.2-6. Practitioner education.
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The state departments of elementary and secondary education and health, in collaboration
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with the Rhode Island chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Rhode Island Academy
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of Family Physicians, the American Heart Association, and the Rhode Island Chapter of the
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American College of Cardiology, shall establish policies, programs, training, and/or continuing
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education to increase the assessment skills of those healthcare practitioners who perform well-child
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physical examinations and preparticipation physical evaluations.
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16-91.2-7. Annual report.

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The department of health shall compile and publish on its website an annual report
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containing the total number of preparticipation physical exams that were completed and the number
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of referrals that were made to a cardiologist. This report shall also analyze the outcomes of this data
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and include any recommendations for changes.
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16-91.2-8. Pamphlet prepared.
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(a) The education commissioner, in consultation with the director of the department of
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health, the American Heart Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, shall develop a
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pamphlet that provides information about diseases that can cause sudden cardiac arrest to children
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and their parents. The pamphlet shall include an explanation of sudden cardiac arrest, its incidence,
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a description of early warning signs, and an overview of the options that are privately available to
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screen for cardiac conditions that may lead to sudden cardiac arrest, including a statement about
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the limitations of these options.
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(b) The commissioner shall distribute the pamphlet, at no charge, to all school districts in
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the state. The commissioner shall update the pamphlet as necessary and shall make additional
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copies available to non-public schools upon request.
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(c) Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, each school district shall annually distribute
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this pamphlet to the parents or guardians of students participating in school sports as part of the
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student's completion of athletic permission forms. A student and their parent or guardian shall
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certify in writing that they received and reviewed the pamphlet.
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16-91.2-9. Consistency with other chapters.
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The provisions of this chapter are intended to support, expand upon, and be consistent with
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the provisions of chapter 91.1 of title 16 ("the sudden cardiac arrest prevention act"). To the extent
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there are any express conflicts between these chapters that cannot be resolved, the provisions of
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this chapter 91.2 of title 16 shall supersede any conflicting provisions in chapter 91.1 of title 16
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16-91.2-10. Rules and regulations.
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The education commissioner in consultation with the director of the department of health
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shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of this chapter, pursuant to
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chapter 35 of title 42 ("administrative procedures").
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE CHILDREN'S CARDIAC SAFETY ACT
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This act would establish "The Children's Cardiac Safety Act" and provide for annual
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cardiovascular screening of children ages nineteen and under. This act would also require that
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student athletes submit a preparticipation form before engaging in athletic sports.
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This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.
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