(a) The Association shall be a unit of the Department of Education. The General Assembly intends for the Association to work in consultation and cooperation with the Department of Education in the development of rules and regulations relating to member school interscholastic athletics. The Association and the Department of Education are authorized to develop all necessary policies and procedures to implement the provisions of this chapter.
(b) The Association, in consultation and cooperation with the Department, shall develop rules and regulations relating to secondary and middle school interscholastic athletics for schools in the State. Such regulations shall include the regulation of athletic programs of all public schools in the State and such nonpublic schools as may elect to become member or associate member schools as provided in regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, eligibility of students to participate in interscholastic athletes, nonschool competitions, coaches and sports officials of interscholastic sports in the State, sanctioning of school team competitions, and other matters affecting interscholastic athletics in the State. However, the Association shall not approve any rule or regulation that denies a student the right to simultaneously try out for, practice with, or participate in games on a team similar to the school team on which that student is a member, except that such dual membership and participation on a similar team shall be authorized only upon written consent by the parent, custodian or guardian of the student. Such written consent shall clearly state the authority to participate on a particularly specified team of a designated organization or institution.
(c) The Association shall adopt rules and regulations as to which sports over which they have jurisdiction.
(d) The Association shall adopt rules and regulations applicable to member schools regarding the appropriate recognition and management of student athletes exhibiting signs or symptoms consistent with a concussion. The rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, the following requirements which shall be effective no later than the 2012-2013 school year:
(1) Each student athlete and the athlete's parent or guardian shall annually sign and return a concussion information sheet designed by the Association prior to the athlete initiating practice or competition.
(2) Each coach shall complete concussion training consistent with a timetable and curriculum established by the Association.
(3) A student athlete shall be promptly removed from play if the athlete is suspected of sustaining a concussion or exhibits signs or symptoms of concussion until completion of assessment by a qualified healthcare professional or medical clearance.
(4) Written clearance for return to play after a concussion shall be from a qualified physician (Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) only.
(e) The Association shall adopt rules and regulations applicable to member schools regarding student athletes and awareness, recognition, and management of sudden cardiac arrest which shall be effective no later than the 2015-2016 school year. The Association, either through rules and regulations or policy adopted pursuant thereto, at a minimum, shall:
(1) Develop and make publicly available a sudden cardiac arrest information sheet that includes information regarding the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest;
(2) Prior to participating in practice or competition, require each student athlete and the athlete's parent or guardian, sign and return a sudden cardiac arrest information sheet designed by the Association;
(3) Require each student athlete to complete a heart history questionnaire as part of the preparticipation physical examination;
(4) Hold a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (“CPR”) certification for all school-appointed head coaches, which includes training on the use of an automated external defibrillator; and
(5) Present to coaches and officials sudden cardiac arrest awareness information.