§ 49-6-3601 — Safety standards for school youth athletic activities - Code of conduct for coaches

(a) As used in this part: (1) "LEA" has the same meaning as defined in § 49-1-103 ; and (2) "School youth athletic activity" has the same meaning as defined in § 68-55-501 . (b) Each LEA and public charter school that provides a school youth athletic activity, the following safety standards must be implemented: (1) All coaches, whether employed by the LEA or public charter school or a volunteer, shall: (A) Annually complete the concussion recognition and head injury safety education course program required under § 68-55-502 ; (B) Annually complete the sudden cardiac arrest education program required under § 68-6-103 ; (C) Receive training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and in the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs); and (D) Comply with all applicable background check and fingerprinting requirements of § 49-5-413 ; (2) The following plans and policies must be implemented at each public school, including public charter schools, for school youth athletic activities: (A) An allergy and anaphylaxis emergency response plan that: (i) Identifies the signs and symptoms of allergic reactions, including severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis; (ii) Provides information relating to the storage, location, use, and administration of epinephrine auto-injectors; and (iii) Includes emergency follow-up procedures; (B) An emergency action plan that facilitates, organizes, and provides for the rehearsal of the actions of coaches and athletes in an emergency; and (C) A severe weather policy that requires all coaches who oversee or participate in outdoor training, practice, or competition to annually: (i) Complete a heat illness prevention course approved by the department of health; provided, that all coaches shall complete the course no later than ninety (90) days after the start of the coach's employment or volunteer service, and annually thereafter. After the coach completes the first heat illness prevention course, the coach shall annually acknowledge in writing that the coach completed the course as required under this subdivision (b)(2)(C)(i), and that the coach understands the requirements and importance of the course; and (ii) Receive training on activity modifications based on environmental conditions, such as lightning; and (3) Each LEA and public charter school shall encourage all coaches, whether employed by the LEA or public charter school or a volunteer, to annually complete training in physical conditioning and in the use of training equipment to the extent such training is readily available. (c) Each LEA and public charter school that provides a school youth athletic activity: (1) Shall develop a code of conduct for coaches; and (2) Is encouraged to visit the department of health's website to review the safety standards recommended for each level of recognition provided as part of the department's "Safe Stars Initiative", and to communicate with the department to ensure that all safety measures are up to date. (d) (1) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, an LEA or public charter school that provides a school youth athletic activity in which youth fourteen (14) years of age or younger are eligible to participate shall implement subsection (c) and ensure that the safety standards outlined in subsection (b) are implemented by all individuals actively involved in organizing, training, or coaching the school youth athletic activity at the LEA or public charter school. (2) (A) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, a private school, as defined in § 49-6-3001 , shall implement subsection (c) and ensure that the safety standards outlined in subsection (b) are implemented by all individuals actively involved in organizing, training, or coaching a school youth athletic activity that is provided by the private school, if: (i) Youth fourteen (14) years of age or younger are eligible to participate in the school youth athletic activity; and (ii) The school youth athletic activity is conducted on property that is owned, managed, or maintained by this state or a political subdivision of this state. (B) Private schools are encouraged to comply with the safety standards outlined in subsections (b) and (c) for school youth athletic activities that are not subject to the requirements of subdivision (d)(2)(A). (3) Cities, counties, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that organize a community-based youth athletic activity, as defined in §§ 68-6-102 and 68-55-501 : (A) Are encouraged to comply with the safety standards outlined in subdivisions (b)(1)-(3) and subsection (c); and (B) Shall ensure that at least one (1) individual who is actively involved in organizing, training, or coaching the community-based youth athletic activity has completed, and is in compliance with, the safety standards applicable to coaches and volunteers outlined in subdivisions (b)(1)-(3) and subsection (c), and that at least one (1) individual who has completed, and is in compliance with, the safety standards applicable to coaches and volunteers outlined in subdivisions (b)(1)-(3) and subsection (c) is present at each practice and competition of a community-based youth athletic activity, if: (i) Youth fourteen (14) years of age or younger are eligible to participate in the community-based youth athletic activity; and (ii) The community-based youth athletic activity is conducted on property that is owned, managed, or maintained by this state or a political subdivision of this state.

Legislative History

Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 382, s 4, eff. 7/1/2023. Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 382, s 3, eff. 7/1/2023. Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 382, s 2, eff. 7/1/2023. Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 382, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023. Added by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 578, s 1, eff. 5/27/2021.