H768 Summary

• Requires State Board of Education to adopt guidelines and educational materials on heat-related illnesses for student athletes, coaches, and parents, utilizing existing resources from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

• Mandates local boards of education adopt heat stroke prevention protocols requiring coaches to remove students exhibiting symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke from participation, with clearance from a licensed healthcare professional required before return.

• Establishes concussion safety rules requiring annual concussion information sheets signed by coaches, athletes, parents, and school personnel before participation, with immediate removal and physician clearance required for suspected concussions.

• Requires each middle and high school to develop written venue-specific emergency action plans reviewed by athletic trainers, approved by principals, and rehearsed annually by athletic staff and first responders.

• Reorganizes existing concussion safety and emergency action plan provisions from G.S. 115C-12 into new Article 29E of Chapter 115C, effective beginning the 2015-2016 school year.