Sponsored by:
Senator PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman NANCY J. PINKIN
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Pou and Assemblyman Houghtaling
SYNOPSIS
Requires school districts which participate in Statewide interscholastic sports programs to adopt New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association heat participation policy.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Education Committee on June 17, 2019, with amendments.
An Act concerning student-athlete safety and supplementing chapter 11 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. A school district which is a member of any voluntary association, pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1979, c.172 (C.18A:11-3), which oversees activities associated with Statewide interscholastic sports programs shall:
a. Adopt the 1[“Heat and Humidity Practice Policy”] “Heat Participation Policy”1 required by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association for conducting practice 1or games1 in all sports during times of high heat or humidity. The association’s policy shall address:
(1) the scheduling of practice 1or games1 during times of various heat and humidity levels;
(2) the ratio of time devoted to workouts to time allotted for rest and hydration during various heat and humidity levels; and
(3) the heat and humidity levels at which practice 1or games1 will be canceled.
The guidelines included in the association’s policy shall provide a default policy to those responsible or sharing duties for making decisions concerning the implementation of modifications or cancellation of practices 1[and contests] or games1 based on the presence of heat and humidity.
b. Purchase a WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) tool to measure the heat stress in direct sunlight at the practice 1or game1 site. Heat stress consists of temperature, humidity, wind speed, the angle of the sun, and cloud coverage.
A school district shall adopt the association’s policy concerning the frequency and recording of WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) measurements.
2. This act shall take effect in the first full school year following enactment.