Bill Text: VA HB1663 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Guidelines, policies, and procedures on the prevention and management of heat illness in student-athletes.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-5)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-22 - Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) [HB1663 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2025-HB1663-Introduced.html
2025 SESSION
INTRODUCED
25101432D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1663
Offered January 8, 2025
Prefiled January 3, 2025
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-271.9, relating to guidelines, policies, and procedures on the prevention and management of heat illness in student-athletes.
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Patron—Jones
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Committee Referral Pending
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-271.9 as follows:
§ 22.1-271.9. Guidelines, policies, and procedures on the prevention and management of heat illness in student-athletes.
A. The Board shall develop and distribute to each local school board guidelines on policies and procedures to inform and educate coaches, student-athletes, and the parents of student-athletes about the nature and risk of heat illness, including the environmental conditions associated with the development of heat illness, criteria for the establishment of cooling zones, hydration guidelines, and evidence-based practices to treat heat illness associated with athletic activities.
B. Each local school board shall develop and establish policies and procedures regarding the prevention and management of heat illness in student-athletes. Such policies shall:
1. Require each public secondary school in the local school division that is a member of the Virginia High School League to make available training and resources on the effective monitoring of heat illness;
2. Require each such member school to monitor heat stress and to modify athletic activities, including suspending or moving the timing of such activities based on heat stress guidelines;
3. Establish guidelines for student-athlete hydration during athletic activities, including administration of electrolytes when indicated;
4. Establish guidelines for (i) monitoring heat illness associated with athletic activities, including measures to prevent, identify, and treat heat illness and (ii) establishing a cooling zone available for each outdoor athletic contest, practice, workout, or conditioning session that includes interventions to rapidly cool internal body temperature when student-athletes exhibit symptoms of exertional heat stroke; and
5. Require each public secondary school to establish an emergency action plan for heat illness in student-athletes that includes a procedure for onsite cooling and transport to a medical center for continued treatment.
