Connecticut 2026 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 3 R · 3 D cosponsors

SB 194 — AN ACT CONCERNING CARDIAC SCREENING AND SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION FOR CERTAIN STUDENT ATHLETES.

Last action — FILE NO. 494

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 11, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    6 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 R · 3 D) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

287 added · 102 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to SB 194 remove provisions related to sudden cardiac arrest education for student athletes and replace them with requirements for health assessments for all public school pupils. Now, local education boards must ensure that health assessments are conducted by qualified healthcare professionals to identify any physical disabilities that may affect a student's ability to learn. This change is significant because it broadens the focus from specific athletic concerns to overall student health, ensuring that all students receive necessary evaluations to support their educational needs.

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General Assembly Raised Bill No.
Senate General Assembly File No.
194 February Session, 2026 LCO No.
494 February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No.
1159 Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH Introduced by:
194 Senate, April 8, 2026 The Committee on Public Health reported through SEN.
(PH) AN ACT CONCERNING CARDIAC SCREENING AND SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION FOR CERTAIN STUDENT ATHLETES.
ANWAR of the 3rd Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT CONCERNING CARDIAC SCREENING AND SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION FOR CERTAIN STUDENT ATHLETES.
Section 10-149f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026):
Section 10-206 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026):
(a) For purposes of this section and section 10-149g, (1) "intramural or interscholastic athletics" shall include any activity sponsored by a school or local education agency, as defined in section 10-15f, or an organization sanctioned by the local education agency that involves any athletic contest, practice, scrimmage, competition, demonstration, display or club activity, and (2) "high-intensity endurance or power sport" means football, basketball, soccer, hockey, lacrosse and a middle- distance or long-distance track event.
(a) Each local or regional board of education shall require each pupil enrolled in the public schools to have health assessments pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year thereafter, the State Board of Education, in consultation with (1) the Commissioner of Public Health, (2) the governing authority for intramural and interscholastic athletics, (3) an appropriate organization LCO No.
Such assessments shall be conducted by (1) a legally qualified practitioner of medicine, (2) an advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse, licensed pursuant to chapter 378, (3) a physician assistant, licensed pursuant to chapter 370, (4) a school medical advisor, or (5) a legally qualified practitioner of medicine, an advanced practice registered nurse or a physician assistant stationed at any military base, to ascertain whether such pupil is suffering from any physical disability tending to prevent such pupil from receiving the full benefit of school work and to ascertain whether such school work sSB194 / File No.
1159 1 of 4 Raised Bill No.194 representing licensed athletic trainers, and (4) an organization representing national, state or local medical associations, shall develop or approve a sudden cardiac arrest awareness education program for use by local and regional boards of education.
494 1 sSB194 File No.
Such program shall be published on the State Board of Education's Internet web site and shall include:
494 should be modified in order to prevent injury to the pupil or to secure for the pupil a suitable program of education.
(A) The warning signs and symptoms associated with a sudden cardiac arrest, including, but not limited to, fainting, difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness and abnormal racing heart rate, (B) the risks associated with continuing to engage in intramural or interscholastic athletics after exhibiting such warning signs and symptoms, (C) the means of obtaining proper medical treatment for a person suspected of experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest, and (D) the proper method of allowing a student who has experienced a sudden cardiac arrest to return to intramural or interscholastic athletics.
No health assessment shall be made of any child enrolled in the public schools unless such examination is made in the presence of the parent or guardian or in the presence of another school employee.
When developing or approving such program, the State Board of Education may utilize existing materials developed by organizations such as Simon's Fund.
The parent or guardian of such child shall receive prior written notice and shall have a reasonable opportunity to be present at such assessment or to provide for such assessment himself or herself.
(c) (1) On or before July 1, 2015, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the organizations described in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section, shall develop and approve an informed consent form to distribute to the parents and legal guardians of students involved in intramural or interscholastic athletics regarding sudden cardiac arrest.
A local or regional board of education may deny continued attendance in public school to any child who fails to obtain the health assessments required under this section.
Such informed consent form shall include, at a minimum, (A) a summary of the sudden cardiac arrest awareness education program described in subsection (b) of this section, and (B) a summaryoftheapplicablelocalorregionalboardofeducation'spolicies regarding sudden cardiac arrests.
(b) Each local or regional board of education shall require each child to have a health assessment prior to public school enrollment.
(2) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year thereafter, any person who holds or is issued a coaching permit by the State Board of Education and is a coach of intramural or interscholastic athletics shall, prior to commencing the coaching assignment for the season of such school athletics, provide each participating student's parent or legal guardian with a copy of the informed consent form LCO No.
The assessment shall include:
1159 2 of 4 Raised Bill No.194 described in subdivision (1) of this subsection and obtain such parent's or legal guardian's signature, attesting to the fact that such parent or legal guardian has received a copy of such form and authorizes the student to participate in the intramural or interscholastic athletics.
(1) A physical examination [which] that shall include hematocrit or hemoglobin tests, height, weight, blood pressure, a medical risk assessment for lead poisoning and, when indicated by such assessment, a test of the child's blood lead level, and, beginning withthe2003-2004 schoolyear,achronicdisease assessment whichshall include, but not be limited to, asthma.
(d) (1) On or before July 1, 2027, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the organizations described in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section, shall develop and approve a sudden cardiac arrest screening form to distribute to the parents and legal guardians of students involved in intramural athletics or interscholastic athletics in a high-intensity endurance or power sport.
The assessment form shall include (A) a check box for the provider conducting the assessment, as provided in subsection (a) of this section, to indicate an asthma diagnosis, (B) screening questions relating to appropriate public health concerns to be answered by the parent or guardian, and (C) screening questions to be answered by such provider;
Such screening form shall include, at a minimum, a question asking whether the student has a history of chest pain with exertion, unexplained syncope or sudden cardiac arrest or a family history of sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death.
(2) an updating of immunizations as required under section 10-204a, provided a registered nurse may only update said immunizations pursuant to a written order by a physician or physician assistant, licensed pursuant to chapter 370, or an advanced practice registered nurse, licensed pursuant to chapter 378;
(2) For the school year commencing July 1, 2027, and each school year thereafter, any person who holds or is issued a coaching permit by the State Board of Education and is a coach of intramural or interscholastic athletics for a high-intensity endurance or power sport shall, prior to commencing the coaching assignment for the season of such sport, (A) provide each participating student's parent or legal guardian with a copy of the screening form described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, and (B) obtain the fully completed form, which shall include such parent's or legal guardian's signature.
(3) vision, hearing, speech and gross dental screenings;
(3) For the school year commencing July 1, 2027, and each school year thereafter, any participating student described in subdivision (2) of this subsection who reports a history of chest pain with exertion, unexplained syncope or sudden cardiac arrest or a family history of sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death on the screening form described in said subdivision shall be permitted to participate in the high-intensity endurance or power sport only after (A) receiving an electrocardiogram test from a health care provider who is licensed to administer such test, (B) receiving written clearance from a health care LCO No.
and (4) such other information, including health and developmental history, as the physician feels is necessary and appropriate.
1159 3 of 4 Raised Bill No.
The assessment shall also include tests for tuberculosis, sickle cell anemia and Cooley's anemia where the local or regional board of education determines after consultation with the school medical advisor and the local health department, or in the case of a regional board of education, each local health department, that such tests are necessary, provided a registered sSB194 / File No.
194 provider who is licensed to provide such clearance, based on the results of such test, to participate in the high-intensity endurance or power sport, and (C) providing such written clearance to the coach of intramural or interscholastic athletics for such high-intensity endurance or power sport.
494 2 sSB194 File No.
494 nurse may only perform said tests pursuant to the written order of a physician or physician assistant, licensed pursuant to chapter 370, or an advanced practice registered nurse, licensed pursuant to chapter 378.
(c) Each local or regional board of education shall require each pupil enrolled in the public schools to have health assessments in either grade six or grade seven and in either grade nine or grade ten.
The assessment shall include:
(1) A physical examination [which] that shall include hematocrit or hemoglobin tests, height, weight, blood pressure, and, beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, a chronic disease assessment which shall include, but not be limited to, asthma as defined by the CommissionerofPublicHealthpursuanttosubsection(c)ofsection19a- 62a, as amended by this act.
The assessment form shall include (A) a check box for the provider conducting the assessment, as provided in subsection (a) of this section, to indicate an asthma diagnosis, (B) screening questions relating to appropriate public health concerns to be answered by the parent or guardian, and (C) screening questions to be answered by such provider;
(2) an updating of immunizations as required under section 10-204a, provided a registered nurse may only update said immunizations pursuant to a written order of a physician or physician assistant, licensed pursuant to chapter 370, or an advanced practice registered nurse, licensed pursuant to chapter 378;
(3) vision, hearing, postural and gross dental screenings;
and (4) such other informationincluding a healthhistory asthephysician feelsis necessary and appropriate.
The assessment shall also include tests for tuberculosis and sickle cell anemia or Cooley's anemia where the local or regional board of education, in consultation with the school medical advisor and the local health department, or in the case of a regional board of education, each local health department, determines that said screening or test is necessary, provided a registered nurse may only perform said tests pursuant to the written order of a physician or physician assistant, licensed pursuant to chapter 370, or an advanced practice registered nurse, licensed pursuant to chapter 378.
(d)For theschoolyear commencing July 1,2027,andeachschoolyear thereafter, each local or regional board of education shall require each sSB194 / File No.
494 3 sSB194 File No.
494 pupil enrolled in grades nine to twelve, inclusive, in the public schools to have an athletics health assessment prior to being permitted to participate in interscholastic athletics for each academic year.
The athletics assessment shall include a physical examination that shall include screening for serious cardiac conditions that could lead to sudden cardiac death, which screening shall be performed in accordance with guidelines established by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology or another organization focused on cardiovascular care in pediatric populations.
The athletics assessment form shall include (1) a check box for the provider conducting the athletics assessment, as provided in subsection (a) of this section, to indicate any patient or family history of symptoms of such serious cardiac conditions, including, but not limited to, chest pain with exertion or unexplained syncope, and any family history of sudden cardiac death, (2) screening questions relating to a family history of such serious cardiac issues to be answered by the parent or guardian, including, but not limited to, chest pain with exertion, unexplained syncope, sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death, (3) any additional cardiac screening questions to be answered by such provider, as deemed necessary and appropriate by such provider, and (4) check boxes for the provider conducting the athletics assessment to indicate whether (A) based on such assessment, the provider has conducted an electrocardiogram test on the pupil or referred the pupil to another provider to receive such test, and (B) based on the results of any such electrocardiogram test, the provider referred the pupil for any additional cardiac screening or treatment.
[(d)] (e) The results of each assessment done pursuant to this section and the results of screenings done pursuant to section 10-214 shall be recorded on forms supplied by the State Board of Education.
Such information shall be included in the cumulative health record of each pupil and shall be kept on file in the school such pupil attends.
If a pupil permanentlyleavesthejurisdictionoftheboardofeducation,thepupil's original cumulative health record shall be sent to the chief administrative officer of the school district to which such student moves.
The board of education transmitting such health record shall sSB194 / File No.
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494 4 sSB194 File No.
494 retain a true copy.
Each physician, advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, or physician assistant performing health assessments and screenings pursuant to this section and section 10-214 shall completely fill out and sign each form and any recommendations concerning the pupil shall be in writing.
[(e)] (f) Appropriate school health personnel shall review the results of each assessment and screening as recorded pursuant to subsection [(d)] (e) of this section.
When, in the judgment of such health personnel, a pupil, as defined in section 10-206a, as amended by this act, is in need of further testing or treatment, the superintendent of schools shall give written notice to the parent or guardian of such pupil and shall make reasonable efforts to assure that such further testing or treatment is provided.
Such reasonable efforts shall include a determination of whetherornottheparentorguardianhasobtainedthenecessarytesting or treatment for the pupil, and, if not, advising the parent or guardian on how such testing or treatment may be obtained.
The results of such further testing or treatment shall be recorded pursuant to subsection [(d)] (e) of this section, and shall be reviewed by school health personnel pursuant to this subsection.
[(f)] (g) On and after October 1, 2017, each local or regional board of education shall report to the local health department and the Department of Public Health, on an triennial basis, the total number of pupils per school and per school district having a diagnosis of asthma (1) at the time of public school enrollment, (2) in grade six or seven, and (3) in grade nine or ten.
The report shall contain the asthma information collected as required under subsections (b) and (c) of this section and shall include pupil age, gender, race, ethnicity and school.
Beginning on October 1, 2021, and every three years thereafter, the Department of Public Health shall review the asthma screening information reported pursuant to this section and shall submit a report to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and education concerning asthma trends and distributions among pupils enrolled in the public schools.
The report shall be submitted in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a sSB194 / File No.
494 5 sSB194 File No.
494 and shall include, but not be limited to, (A) trends and findings based on pupil age, gender, race, ethnicity, school and the education reference group, as determined by the Department of Education for the town or regional school district in which such school is located, and (B) activities of the asthma screening monitoring system maintained under section 19a-62a, as amended by this act.
Sec.
2.
Section 10-206a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026):
Each local or regional board of education shall provide for health assessments pursuant to [subsection (c)] subsections (c) and (d) of section 10-206, as amended by this act, without charge to all pupils whose parents or guardians meet the eligibility requirements for free and reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program or for free milk under the special milk program.
To meet its obligations pursuant to this section, a board of education may utilize existing community resources and services.
Sec.
3.
Section 19a-62a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026):
(a) The Commissioner of Public Health shall maintain a system of monitoring asthma screening information reported to the Department of Public Health pursuant to subsection [(f)] (g) of section 10-206, as amended by this act.
(b) Not later than October 1, 2021, and triennially thereafter, the Department of Public Health shall post on its Internet web site the activities of the asthma screening monitoring system maintained under subsection (a) of this section, including a report of the information obtained by the department pursuant to subsection [(f)] (g) of section 10-206, as amended by this act.
Section 1 July 1, 2026 10-149f Statement of Purpose:
Section 1 July 1, 2026 10-206 sSB194 / File No.
To require cardiac screening of certain student athletes to prevent sudden cardiac arrest in such athletes.
494 6 sSB194 File No.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.
494 Sec.
Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.
2 July 1, 2026 10-206a Sec.
1159 4 of 4
3 July 1, 2026 19a-62a PH Joint Favorable Subst.
sSB194 / File No.
494 7 sSB194 File No.
494 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
Municipalities Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Local and Regional School STATE None Potential Districts MANDATE 1 Minimal - Potential Cost Explanation The bill, which requires high school student athletes to complete an athletics health assessment and local and regional boards of education (BOEs) to pay for the assessment for certain students, results in a potentially minimal cost to BOEs beginning in FY 28.
The cost is dependent on the number of students for whom the BOE must pay for the assessment and the cost of the assessment.
It is anticipated the cost of the assessment will be minimal and may be covered by insurance for some students.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.
1State mandate is defined in Sec.
2-32b(2) of the Connecticut General Statutes, "state mandate" means any state initiated constitutional, statutory or executive action that requires a local government to establish, expand or modify its activities in such a way as to necessitate additional expenditures from local revenues.
sSB194 / File No.
494 8 sSB194 File No.
494 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 194 AN ACT CONCERNING CARDIAC SCREENING AND SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST PREVENTION FOR CERTAIN STUDENT ATHLETES.
SUMMARY Starting in the 2027-28 school year, this bill generally requires public high school students, before participating in interscholastic sports, to haveanannualathleticshealthassessmentby ahealthprofessional.This must include a physical exam that screens for serious cardiac conditions that could lead to sudden death.
Among other things, the assessment form must include information on relevant patient or family history and whether the provider did an electrocardiogram (EKG) or referred the student for one.
As with other student health assessments under existing law, the bill requires schools to (1) provide the assessment for free if the student is eligible for free or reduced price meals and (2) record the assessment results in the student’s health record.
The bill extends to these athletic health assessments certain other provisions that apply to student health assessments under existing law, including those shielding the records from public inspection and requiring a religious exemption (CGS §§ 10-208 & -209).
The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
July 1, 2026 sSB194 / File No.
494 9 sSB194 File No.
494 ANNUAL ATHLETICS HEALTH ASSESSMENT Under the bill, the required athletic health assessment for high school student athletes must be done by a qualified health care provider, such as a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant.Itmustincludeaphysicalexamthat screensforseriouscardiac conditions that could lead to sudden death, with the screening done in line with guidelines set by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, or another organization focused on pediatric cardiovascular care.
The assessment form, to be supplied by the state Board of Education, must include:
1.
a check box for the provider to indicate any patient or family history of serious cardiac symptoms, such as chest pain with exertion or unexplained syncope (fainting), and family history of sudden cardiac death;
2.
screening questions for the parent or guardian about family history with these issues, including those listed above or sudden cardiac arrest;
3.
any additional screening questions for the provider to answer as he or she deems necessary and appropriate;
and 4.
check boxes for the provider to indicate whether, based on the assessment, the provider conducted an EKG or referred the student for one and if so, whether he or she then referred the student for additional screening or treatment.
COMMITTEE ACTION Public Health Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 32 Nay 0 (03/23/2026) sSB194 / File No.
494 10
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 494

  2. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 306

  3. FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0218

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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6 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 181 not signed on

Sponsors (6)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (181)

181 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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healthcare education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 194?
SB 194 is sponsored by Tom O'Dea (Republican), Martha Marx (Democratic), Antonio Felipe (Democratic), Nicole Klarides-Ditria (Republican), Craig C. Fishbein (Republican), and Saud Anwar (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 194?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 11, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 194?
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