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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9218 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9218
To direct local educational agencies that receive certain Federal funds
to require students in grades 9 through 12 to receive an
electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram prior to participating in an
athletic contest for the first time, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 9, 2026
Mr. Gottheimer (for himself and Mr. Bacon) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct local educational agencies that receive certain Federal funds
to require students in grades 9 through 12 to receive an
electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram prior to participating in an
athletic contest for the first time, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as ``Marcus's Law''.
SEC. 2. REQUIRING ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS AND ECHOCARDIOGRAMS FOR HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN ATHLETIC CONTESTS.
(a) Electrocardiogram and Echocardiogram Required.--
(1) In general.--Beginning with school year 2026-2027 and
in accordance with paragraph (2) and subject to paragraph (3),
a local educational agency that receives funds under an
applicable program shall require students served by such agency
in grades 9 through 12 to receive medical screening prior to
participating in an athletic contest for the first time.
(2) Period.--A student described in paragraph (1) may
receive medical screening in accordance with such paragraph at
any point during the period--
(A) beginning on the date that is the first day of
the school year in which such student begins grade 9;
and
(B) ending on the date that is 1 day prior to the
first time such student participates in an athletic
contest at any point during grades 9 through 12.
(3) Partnerships.--
(A) In general.--By not later than the first day of
the first sports season that begins after the date of
the enactment of this section, a local educational
agency described in paragraph (1) shall enter into a
partnership with a public or private entity to offer
medical screenings required under this section at a
cost of $20 or less per student.
(B) Waiver.--
(i) In general.--If a local educational
agency is unable to enter into a partnership
described in subparagraph (A) with respect to a
sports season, such agency shall submit to the
Secretary such information as the Secretary may
require in order to demonstrate attempts by
such agency to enter into such a partnership.
(ii) Determination.--If the Secretary
determines, based on the information submitted
under clause (i), that a local educational
agency made sufficient attempts to enter into a
partnership described in subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall waive the requirement under
paragraph (1) for such agency with respect to
the sports season described in clause (i).
(iii) Subsequent sports season.--A local
educational agency that receives a waiver under
clause (ii) shall attempt to enter into a
partnership described in subparagraph (A) that
begins not later than the first day of the
sports season immediately following the sports
season for which the waiver applies.
(b) Religious and Medical Exemptions.--A local educational agency
described in subsection (a)(1) may not require medical screening with
respect to any student--
(1) for whom such medical screening conflicts with the
religious tenets and practices of such student or their parent;
or
(2) who provides documentation from a physician describing
why such student should not participate in such medical
screening; or
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Applicable program.--The term ``applicable program''
has the meaning given such term in section 400(c) of the
General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1221(c)).
(2) Athletic contest.--The term ``athletic contest'' means
a competitive event where athletes or teams compete on behalf
of a secondary school, including a game, match, meet, or
tournament.
(3) ESEA terms.--The terms ``local educational agency'' and
``parent'' have the meanings given such terms in section 8101
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7801).
(4) Medical screening.--The term ``medical screening''
means an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram.
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