Electrocardiograms for Student Athletes Act

Prior to task force meetings, ALEC posts these legislative member-submitted draft model policies to our website. The draft model policies are then discussed, debated, and voted on by ALEC task force members. Policies that receive final approval by legislators on the ALEC Board of Directors become official ALEC model policy. Draft model policies that fail to become official ALEC model policy are removed from the website.

Policy Status

  • Type: Model Policy
  • Status: Draft
  • Date Introduced: July 23, 2026

Task Forces

  • Education and Workforce Development

    • Tags

  • 2026 Annual Meeting

    • Summary

    This model policy creates new heart-screening requirements for student athletes participating in interscholastic sports. Students participating in athletics for the first time would be required to complete at least one electrocardiogram (EKG) screening in addition to the standard annual sports physical. The measure allows qualified medical practitioners to perform the evaluations and requires athletic governing bodies to adopt policies preventing students with abnormal EKG results from participating until they receive written medical clearance from a trained provider. Parents may opt out of the screening for religious reasons, and school districts are to pursue partnerships to provide low-cost EKGs for students. The model also includes liability protections for schools and districts in certain circumstances related to athletic participation and cardiac events. 
    Draft

    Electrocardiograms for Student Athletes Act

    Section 1. Medical Evaluation and Electrocardiogram  

    1. Students must satisfactorily pass a medical evaluation each year and, for students who are participating in interscholastic athletics for the first time, complete at least one electrocardiogram screening from an appropriate health care practitioner or the school district before participating in athletics, unless:   
      • (a) The parent objects in writing based on religious tenets or practices;   
      • (b) The student submits a written medical clearance as described in Section 3;  
      • (c) The school district is unable to obtain a public or private partnership for the provision of an electrocardiogram as described in Section 4.  

    Section 2. Medical Evaluation and Electrocardiogram Required in State Governing Board Bylaws  

    1. The [STATE GOVERNING ORGANIZATION FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES] shall adopt bylaws that require all students participating in interscholastic athletic competition or who are candidates for an interscholastic athletic team to satisfactorily pass a medical evaluation and an electrocardiogram each year before participating in interscholastic athletic competition or engaging in any practice, tryout, workout, conditioning, or other physical activity associated with the student’s candidacy for an interscholastic athletic team, including activities that occur outside of the school year.  
    2. Such medical evaluation and such electrocardiogram may be administered only by a practitioner licensed in [STATE], or a practitioner who holds an active equivalent licensure issued by the state in which the medical evaluation and electrocardiogram are performed, and in good standing with the practitioner’s regulatory board.  
    3. Beginning in the [XXXX-XXXX] academic year and thereafter, each student who is in grades 9 through 12 and is participating in interscholastic athletic competition or who is a candidate for an interscholastic athletic team for the first time must complete at least one electrocardiogram screening.  

    Section 3. Abnormal Electrocardiogram Results. Clearance to Participate  

    1. The [STATE GOVERNING ORGANIZATION FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES] shall prohibit a student athlete who receives an abnormal electrocardiogram result from participating in tryouts, practice, or competition until the student submits to the school a written medical clearance to participate.  
    2. Medical clearance must be authorized by an appropriate health care practitioner who is trained in the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of electrocardiograms.  
    3. There shall be no liability on the part of a school district in a position to otherwise rely on the results of the electrocardiogram and medical clearance for any damages resulting from the student’s injury or death arising from a cardiac event due to the student’s participation in interscholastic athletics.  

    Section 4. Public-Private Partnerships  

    1. Each school district must pursue public-private partnerships to provide low-cost electrocardiograms to students.   
    2. A student athlete is exempt from the requirement if he or she resides in a school district that is unable to obtain a public-private partnership to provide an electrocardiogram at a rate of less than [DOLLAR AMOUNT] per student.  

    Section 5. Effective Date