An Act concerning physical examination requirements for certain student-athletes during the fall athletic season of the 2020-2021 school year.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, during the fall athletic season of the 2020-2021 school year,
a student-athlete who has not completed a physical examination within 365 days prior to the first day of official practice in the athletic season, as required under section 2 of P.L.2013, c.71 (C.18A:40-41.7), shall be permitted to participate in a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad during that athletic season, provided that the student-athlete completes the physical examination before the end of the athletic season, and the parent or guardian of the student-athlete provides proof, before the first day of official practice of the athletic season, that the physical examination is scheduled .
b. (1) A student-athlete who qualifies for participation on a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad during the fall athletic season of the 2020-2021 school year under the provisions of subsection a. of this section shall provide the health history update questionnaire required under subsection b. of section 2 of P.L.2013, c.71 (C.18A:40-41.7) before the first day of official practice of the athletic season .
(2) If the student-athlete answers in the affirmative to any question included in the health history update questionnaire, then the student-athlete shall not participate on the school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad until he is further evaluated by the school physician, or if a school physician is not available, any other licensed physician.
c. As used in this section, “student-athlete” means a student enrolled in grades six to 12 who participates on a school-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team or squad and includes transfer students.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved August 12, 2020.