(a) A pupil who passes out or faints while participating in or immediately following an athletic activity, or who is known to have passed out or fainted while participating in or immediately following an athletic activity, shall be removed from participation at that time by the athletic director, coach, athletic trainer, or authorized person.

(b) A pupil who exhibits any of the other symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 33479.2, during an athletic activity, may be removed from participation by an athletic trainer or authorized person if the athletic trainer or authorized person reasonably believes that the symptoms are cardiac related. In the absence of an athletic trainer or authorized person, any coach who observes any of the symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest shall notify the parent or guardian of the pupil so that the parent or guardian can determine what treatment, if any, the pupil should seek.

(c) A pupil who is removed from play under this section shall not be permitted to return to participate in an athletic activity until the pupil is evaluated and cleared to return to participate in writing by a physician and surgeon, or a nurse practitioner or physician assistant practicing in accordance with standardized procedures or protocols developed by the supervising physician and surgeon and the nurse practitioner or physician assistant, as applicable.

(d) This section does not apply to a pupil engaging in an athletic activity during the regular schoolday or as part of a physical education course required pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 51220 unless it constitutes a practice, interscholastic practice, or scrimmage pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 33479.1.

(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 792, Sec. 1. (AB 1639) Effective January 1, 2017. Section operative July 1, 2017, pursuant to Section 33479.9.)