AUSTIN Crosbys Scott Stephens has set in motion the passage of legislation that will require an electrocardiogram heart test for student athletes.
Last week when Sylvester Turner, D-139th, Wayne Smith R.-128th, and Dan Huberty R.-127th filed House Bills 677, 767 and 799 respectively no Senate bill had been filed but Tuesday State Senator Juan Chuy Hinojosa filed the first of two known Senate Bills as State Senator Sylvia Garcia has decided to do also this week.
Locally, many know that Cody Setphens died on May 6, 2012 a day before graduation of sudden cardiac death. Many know that Huffman ISD required the test but Crosby ISD did not back then.
Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of death among school-age athletes. Student athletes are 4.5 times more likely to die from sudden cardiac death than students not participating in competitive sports. Student athletes in Texas are currently required to receive a physical in order to participate in UIL activities, the traditional physical does not sufficiently detect the underlying cardiac abnormalities that can lead to sudden cardiac death. An ECG provides for greater detection of cardiovascular diseases that predispose athletes to sudden cardiac death.
I ask people all the time Do you want to go to your doctor and say Give me the same physical you gave my dad 35 years ago?, and thats really what were doing for our kids, said Stephen.
Wording in each of the bills is the same, and another Senator, especially a Republican is welcome to file a similar bill which reads:
Except as provided under Subsection (d), a school district must require a district student who is required under University Interscholastic League rule or policy to receive a physical examination before being allowed to participate in an athletic activity sponsored or sanctioned by the University Interscholastic League to also have administered to the student an electrocardiogram before being allowed to participate in the activity, including a practice for the activity, as follows:
(1) one time before the students first year of participation; and
(2) another time before the students third year of participation.
If passed, Texas would become the first state in the nation to require student athletes to undergo electrocardiogram testing. The test would cost $15 each with agreements that Setphens initiated with healthcare providers and hospitals.