Physicals and EKGs for student athletes

2025-2026 Bill 4746: Physicals and EKGs for student athletes - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 4746
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Oremus, Duncan, Hayes, Hartz, Forrest and Cobb-Hunter
Document Path: LC-0552WAB26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 13, 2026
Currently residing in the House
Summary: Physicals and EKGs for student athletes
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

12/16/2025

House

Prefiled

12/16/2025

House

Referred to Committee on
Education and Public Works

1/13/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 76
)

1/13/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Education and Public Works
(
House Journal-page 76
)

1/21/2026

House

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Duncan,
Hayes, Hartz, Forrest, Cobb-Hunter

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
12/17/2025

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
59-63-77
SO AS TO REQUIRE STUDENTS IN GRADES SEVEN THROUGH TWELVE WHO
PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS TO RECEIVE AN ANNUAL PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION BEFORE PARTICIPATION AND A ONE-TIME ELECTROCARDIOGRAM BEFORE
INITIAL PARTICIPATION, TO PROVIDE FOR EXEMPTIONS, LIABILITY LIMITATIONS, AND
SCHOOL DISTRICT DUTIES, TO REQUIRE GOVERNING BODIES OF INTERSCHOLASTIC
ATHLETICS TO CONFORM THEIR BYLAWS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR EFFECTIVE DATES AND
APPLICABILITY.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
A
rticle 1, Chapter 63, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:

S
ection
59-63-77
.
(
A) For purposes of this
section:

(
1)
"Student athlete" means a student in grades seven through twelve enrolled in a
public school in this State who participates in interscholastic athletics.

(
2)
"Healthcare provider" means a person who is:

(
a)
a licensed physician authorized to practice medicine in this State pursuant to
Article 1, Chapter 47, Title 40;

(
b)
a licensed advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) authorized to practice in
this State pursuant to Chapter 33, Title 40, excluding certified registered
nurse anesthetists; or

(
c)
a licensed physician assistant (PA) authorized to practice in this State
pursuant to Article 7, Chapter 47, Title 40.

(
3)
"Electrocardiogram" or "EKG" means a test that measures the electrical activity
of the heart and is used to detect heart abnormalities.

(
4)
"Participation" includes, but is not limited to, tryouts, optional or required
conditioning and practices, athletic contests, and scrimmages conducted under
the auspices of a school or school district.

(
5)
"Physical examination" means a medical examination performed by a healthcare
provider to assess a student's general health and physical fitness for
participation in athletic activities.

(
B)
(
1) Beginning with the 2027-2028 School
Year, a student athlete must complete the following before participation in
interscholastic athletics:

(
a)
An annual physical examination conducted within the twelve months preceding the
start of each athletic season; and

(
b)
A one-time electrocardiogram (EKG) prior to the student's initial participation
in interscholastic athletics in grades seven through twelve.

(
2)
Examinations required under this section must be conducted by a healthcare
provider as defined in subsection (A)(2). A healthcare provider who administers
or evaluates an electrocardiogram must be trained in the diagnosis, evaluation,
and management of electrocardiograms.

(
3)
Documentation of compliance must be submitted to the student's school district
prior to participation.

(
C)
(
1) A student is exempt from the
requirements of this section if:

(
a)
the student's parent or legal guardian submits a written objection to the
examination or electrocardiogram based on sincerely held religious tenets or
practices; or

(
b)
a healthcare provider issues a certificate of medical exemption based on the
student's individual medical condition.

(
2)
If a student is exempt under this subsection:

(
a)
there is no liability on the part of any person, school, school district, or
governing body of interscholastic athletics for any injury or death to the
student arising directly from an undisclosed medical condition that would
likely have been revealed by the examination or electrocardiogram; and

(
b)
the exemption does not impose a duty of care or a duty to warn on any such
person or entity.

(
D)
(
1) A student athlete who receives an
abnormal EKG result is prohibited from participating in tryouts, practices, or
competitions until the student submits written medical clearance to the school
district.

(
2)
The medical clearance must be issued by a healthcare provider trained in the
diagnosis, evaluation, and management of electrocardiograms.

(
3)
There is no liability on the part of a school, school district, or governing
body of interscholastic athletics for any injury or death to the student
arising from a cardiac event following such clearance.

(
E)
(
1) Each school district shall make
good-faith efforts to pursue public and private partnerships to provide
electrocardiograms at low or no cost to student athletes.

(
2)
A student athlete is exempt from the EKG requirement if the school district in
which the student resides is unable to obtain a public or private partnership
that provides EKGs at a cost of less than fifty dollars per student.

(
F)
Any governing body of interscholastic athletics operating in this State shall
revise its bylaws, rules, and procedures as necessary to conform to the
provisions of this section. A school district may not participate in
interscholastic competitions sanctioned by a governing body that fails to
comply with this subsection.

S
ECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on January 13, 2026 at 2:39 PM