Venue-specific heat-related illnesses emergency action plan requirement for institutions of higher education

Section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092) is amended by inserting at the end the following new subsection: (n) Venue-Specific heat-Related illnesses emergency action plan (1) In general Each institution of higher education that is participating in any program under this title and that is a member of an athletic association or athletic conference shall— (A) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection and in consultation with local emergency responders, develop and implement a venue-specific heat-related illnesses emergency action plan, which shall include a plan for the operation and use of automatic external defibrillators and cold water immersion equipment; and (B) not later than 1 year after the date that such emergency action plan is first implemented, and on an annual basis thereafter, submit to the Secretary and authorizing committees a report that demonstrates compliance with the requirements of this subsection with respect to the preceding year. (2) Requirements An emergency action plan developed and implemented under paragraph (1), with respect to an institution of higher education, shall— (A) include a symptom identification structure and a coordination of care plan for student athletes exhibiting signs of heat-related illness, and be visibly posted in each— (i) locker room; (ii) athletic training facility; (iii) weight room; and (iv) outdoor sports complex and stadium; (B) be made available on the athletic program website or public website of the institution of higher education at the beginning of each academic year; (C) be distributed to local emergency responders; and (D) before the start of practical training for each academic year, be distributed to, and practiced in-person by all of the following individuals at the institution of higher education: (i) Student athletes. (ii) Certified athletic trainers. (iii) Team physicians. (iv) Athletic training students. (v) Athletic administrators. (vi) Coaches. (vii) Institutional safety personnel. (viii) Legal counsel. (3) Recommendations In developing an emergency action plan under paragraph (1), an institution of higher education shall consider— (A) including guidelines by the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature index to assess environmental condition and heat stress prevention for student athletes; (B) having a readily accessible and properly maintained automatic external defibrillator within 3 minutes of each sporting venue; and (C) including the locations of each automatic external defibrillator in such plan. (4) Authorized adjustments In the case of a facility described in paragraph (2)(A) that is undergoing a major physical alteration that would affect the implementation of a requirement of paragraph (2), such requirement may be adjusted with respect to such facility..