Electrocardiograms for Student Athletes

Changed the mandatory EKG requirement start date from 2028-2029 to 2026-2027 school year, and allowed EKGs completed up to 2 years prior to satisfy requirements.

Added new requirement that students with abnormal EKG results must obtain written medical clearance before participating in tryouts, practice, or competition.

Added specific requirements for EKG forms to include American Heart Association recommendations and practitioner attestation of procedures performed.

Added requirement that EKGs be administered in accordance with standards established by the FHSAA's Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.

Added liability immunity protections for schools and practitioners when relying on EKG results and medical clearance decisions.

Added exemption for students in districts unable to obtain EKGs at less than $50 per student through public-private partnerships.

Expanded medical evaluation practitioner eligibility to include practitioners holding active equivalent licensure from other states.

Added provisions allowing students living outside Florida who attend in-state boarding schools to have medical evaluations and electrocardiograms performed by practitioners licensed in their home state, if verified by the boarding school.

Updated electrocardiogram form requirements to include specific language about practitioner signatures, referral tracking, and cardiovascular assessment information.

Added requirement that students seeking an exception to the electrocardiogram requirement must submit a notarized form developed by the FHSAA before participating in interscholastic activities.

Changed the bill title from 'Second Chance Act' to 'Electrocardiograms for Student Athletes' in the engrossed version.

Changed from requiring certain students to receive ECGs to requiring all students participating in interscholastic athletics to pass an ECG screening before participation.

Modified parental objection provisions to require notarized forms signed by parents/guardians for ECG exceptions, with liability protections for schools when exceptions are granted.

Added a phased implementation schedule requiring first-time high school participants to complete at least one ECG screening beginning in the 2028-2029 school year.

Authorized FHSAA member schools to collaborate with public and private entities to offer low-cost or free ECG screenings.

Updated committee sponsors from Health Policy and Education Pre-K-12 to include Fiscal Policy, and added Senators Avila and Arrington to the sponsor list.

Changed the list of practitioners authorized to administer medical evaluations to include only those licensed under chapters 458 or 459, removing references to chapters 460 and 464.012.

Added requirement that medical evaluation results must be received and approved by the school before a student can participate in interscholastic athletics.

Expanded parental objection provisions to include objection to the entire medical evaluation, not just the electrocardiogram, with specific liability release requirements.

Added requirement for FHSAA to develop a standard form to document exceptions granted under parental objection provisions.

Added specific implementation dates requiring electrocardiograms for all students by the 2028-2029 school year, with FHSAA to establish criteria for expanded eligibility by the 2029-2030 school year.

Changed physician exemption criteria from requiring a statement from any physician to requiring a physician licensed under chapters 458 or 459 and in good standing with the applicable regulatory board.

Added a short title for the act, designating it as the "Second Chance Act."

Changed the EKG requirement timeline from immediate universal application to a phased approach where all students must receive at least one EKG by the 2028-2029 school year, with FHSAA bylaws specifying full requirements by 2029-2030.

Added requirement that parents objecting to EKGs on religious grounds must provide a written release of liability prepared by an attorney in good standing with The Florida Bar, or alternatively a written statement from a licensed practitioner.

Added requirement for FHSAA to develop a standard form to document exceptions granted under the religious exemption provision.

Added liability protection for schools and other entities when parents object to EKGs on religious grounds, shielding them from damages resulting from injuries or deaths caused by undisclosed medical conditions.