ASSEMBLY, No. 4295

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED JUNE 22, 2020

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  ERIK K. SIMONSEN

District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)

SYNOPSIS

     Delays physical examination requirement for certain student-athletes who participate in school-sponsored athletic activities during fall athletic season of 2020-2021 school year.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

An Act concerning physical examination requirements for certain student-athletes during the fall athletic season of the 2020-2021 school year.

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

     1.    a.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, during the fall athletic season of the 2020-2021 school year, a student-athlete who has not completed a physical examination within 365 days prior to the first day of official practice in the athletic season, as required under section 2 of P.L.2013, c.71 (C.18A:40-41.7), shall be permitted to participate in a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad during that athletic season, provided that the student-athlete completes the physical examination before the end of the athletic season.

     b.    (1)     A student-athlete who qualifies for participation on a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad during the fall athletic season of the 2020-2021 school year under the provisions of subsection a. of this section shall provide the health history update questionnaire required under subsection b. of section 2 of P.L.2013, c.71 (C.18A:40-41.7) before the first day of official practice of the athletic season.

     (2)    If the student-athlete answers in the affirmative to any question included in the health history update questionnaire, then the student-athlete shall not participate on the school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad until he is further evaluated by the school physician, or if a school physician is not available, any other licensed physician.

     c.     As used in this section, "student-athlete" means a student enrolled in grades six to 12 who participates on a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad and includes transfer students.

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

     This bill delays the physical examination requirement for certain student-athletes who participate in school-sponsored athletic activities during the fall athletic season of the 2020-2021 school year.

     Under current law, before a student enrolled in grades six through 12 may participate in a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic activity, the student-athlete is required to receive a physical examination within 365 days before the first day of official practice of the athletic season.  When a student-athlete's physical examination was completed more than 90 days before the first day of official practice, current law also requires the student-athlete to provide a health history update questionnaire, which is completed by the student's parent or guardian and reviewed by the school nurse and athletic trainer. 

      Under the bill, a student-athlete who has not completed a physical examination within 365 days prior to the first day of official practice in the fall athletic season of the 2020-2021 school year would be permitted to participate in a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad during that season, provided that the student-athlete completes the physical examination before the end of the athletic season. 

      A student-athletic who qualifies for participation in a school-sponsored athletic activity under the provisions of this bill would be required to complete the health history update questionnaire before the first day of official practice of the fall athletic season of the 2020-2021 school year.  If the student-athlete answers in the affirmative to any question included in the health history update questionnaire, then the student-athlete may not participate in the school-sponsored athletic activity until he is further evaluated by the school physician, or if a school physician is not available, any other licensed physician.