Rating: –1

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Bill Summary:

House Bill 313 creates a new statutory requirement that all Idaho public schools provide sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) education to student-athletes and their parents prior to participation in athletic activities. The bill mandates the development of SCA guidelines and informational materials by the State Department of Education and the Idaho High School Activities Association. Parents and students must sign an acknowledgment form annually. Coaches are required to complete SCA training every two years and must remove any athlete showing symptoms of cardiac distress. The student cannot return to participation until evaluated and cleared by a licensed health professional. Coaches acting in good faith are granted limited immunity from civil liability. Non-school-affiliated youth sports organizations are encouraged—but not required—to follow the same procedures.

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Reason for Rating:

Though intended to enhance student-athlete safety, H0313 represents an expansion of state-mandated medical policy within the public school system. It imposes procedural and training requirements on schools and volunteer coaches, mandates medical evaluations prior to athletic re-entry, and transfers decision-making authority from families and local educators to the state. This shift undermines parental rights and local control, two foundational principles of the Idaho Republican Party Platform.

Additionally, the bill creates an unfunded mandate that burdens rural and small schools, codifies a one-size-fits-all approach to health response, and sets a precedent for further state intrusion into medical decisions surrounding student participation. These features run counter to the platform’s support for limited government, decentralization, and the right of families to direct the medical and educational care of their children. For these reasons, House Bill 313 is appropriately rated at –1.