HB45 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jeremy GrayRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to public K-12 sports; to create the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act; to require the State Board of Education to adopt certain guidelines and information sheets regarding sudden cardiac arrest and distribute those information sheets to students, parents, and coaches; to require coaches to undergo certain training related to sudden cardiac arrest and to remove students who exhibit symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest from play; to require students and parents to acknowledge consent of certain informational materials related to sudden cardiac arrest; to establish certain penalties for coaches and to protect a coach from certain liability related to sudden cardiac arrest.

Summary

The Tyrell Spencer Act adds rules to protect student athletes from sudden cardiac arrest in K-12 sports, including guidelines, coach training, and consent requirements.

What This Bill Does

The State Board of Education must adopt guidelines and information sheets about sudden cardiac arrest and distribute them to student athletes, parents, and coaches. Starting in 2024-2025, student athletes and their parents must sign an acknowledgment before participation, kept in the online eligibility system. A student who faints or shows symptoms must be removed from play and cannot return until a licensed physician provides written clearance. Coaches must complete a cardiac arrest training course every two years, with training approved by the Board; there are penalties for non-compliance and liability protections for coaches, and AED availability is encouraged.

Who It Affects

• Student athletes and their parents/guardians: must receive information about sudden cardiac arrest, sign an acknowledgment before participating, and follow removal/return-to-play rules if symptoms occur.
• Coaches and school sports staff (AHSAA/AISA): must complete the mandated training, enforce removal of symptomatic players, face potential suspension for non-compliance, and receive liability protections unless reckless or gross negligence is involved.

Key Provisions

• Board shall adopt guidelines to inform and educate student athletes, parents, and coaches about sudden cardiac arrest and its warning signs.
• Information sheets detailing sudden cardiac arrest shall be provided to each student athlete and to their parents or guardians.
• Starting with the 2024-2025 school year, student athletes and their parents must sign an acknowledgment of receipt and understanding of the information before participation; acknowledgments are kept in the school's online eligibility system.
• Any student who faints or exhibits symptoms must be pulled from play and may not return until a licensed physician provides written clearance.
• Coaches must complete a cardiac arrest training course every two years, approved by the Board, with possible inclusion of Simon's Heart or NFHS materials; training should align with CPR/AED requirements.
• Coaches may be suspended for not completing the required training or for not removing a symptomatic student from play.
• Coaches have liability protections related to sudden cardiac arrest unless they are reckless or grossly negligent.
• AED availability at athletic activities is encouraged, with a goal of three minutes retrieval time.
• AHSAA and AISA may provide the training for their member schools, and guidelines/materials should be posted publicly.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.