House Bill hb0799c1

    Florida House of Representatives - 2002              CS/HB 799

        By the Committee on Colleges & Universities and
    Representative Barreiro





  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to postsecondary education;

  3         creating the "Ramiro 'Toti' Mendez Act";

  4         requiring community colleges, colleges, and

  5         universities to require complete physical

  6         assessments of all students who participate in

  7         intercollegiate athletics; providing

  8         requirements for such assessments; providing an

  9         exception; providing an effective date.

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11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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13         Section 1.  Physical assessments for college

14  athletes.--

15         (1)  This section may be cited as the "Ramiro 'Toti'

16  Mendez Act."

17         (2)  Each community college, college, and university in

18  this state must require each student who participates in

19  intercollegiate athletics to have a complete physical

20  assessment before the student is allowed to participate in the

21  sport. The assessment must be performed by a physician

22  licensed under chapter 458, Florida Statutes, or chapter 459,

23  Florida Statutes, and must include a complete cardiovascular

24  assessment, including, but not limited to, an

25  electrocardiogram (EKG).

26         (3)  The electrocardiogram performed under subsection

27  (2) must be analyzed by a person who is licensed or trained as

28  a specialist in EKG analysis.

29         (4)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2),

30  a student may participate in intercollegiate athletics if the

31  student, or the student's parent if the student is under 18

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2002              CS/HB 799

    184-316-02






  1  years of age, objects in writing to the student undergoing a

  2  complete physical or cardiovascular assessment because such

  3  assessment is contrary to his or her religious tenets or

  4  practices. A student who participates without the required

  5  physical or cardiovascular assessment pursuant to this

  6  subsection shall not have a cause of action against any person

  7  or entity for any injury or other damages suffered by such

  8  student and arising out of the student's participation unless

  9  the injury is caused by gross negligence, recklessness, or

10  intentional misconduct.

11         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.

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