Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023)
Title 6 - EDUCATION (§§ 6-1-101 — 6-87-104)
Subtitle 2 - ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION GENERALLY (§§ 6-10-101 — 6-28-206)
Chapter 18 - STUDENTS (§§ 6-18-101 — 6-18-2608)
Subchapter 7 - HEALTH (§§ 6-18-701 — 6-18-723)
Section 6-18-708 - Health and safety in public schools

• (a) A school district shall develop procedures concerning student physical activity in its public schools that include without limitation the recognition and management of the following events or conditions that may be encountered by a student during athletic training and physical activities:
  • (1) A concussion, dehydration, or other health emergency;
  • (2) An environmental issue that threatens the health or safety of students;
  • (3) A communicable disease; and
  • (4) A sudden cardiac arrest.

• (b)
  • (1) Every three (3) years as part of the requirements for professional development, a person employed by a school district as an athletics coach shall complete training on the events and conditions identified in subsection (a) of this section.
  • (2) The training may include a component on best practices for a coach to educate parents of students involved in athletics on sports safety.

• (c)
  • (1) Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, a person employed by a school district as an athletics coach who fails to meet the requirements of subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall not be eligible to coach an athletic activity until the training requirements are met.
  • (2) If a person fails to meet the requirements of subdivision (b)(1) of this section and continues to coach an athletic activity, the school district shall:
    • (A) For the first violation, suspend the person from coaching an athletic activity until training requirements are met;
    • (B) For the second violation, suspend the person from coaching an athletic activity for the remainder of the athletic season and the next athletic season; and
    • (C) For the third violation, permanently suspend the person from coaching an athletic activity.

Amended by Act 2017, No. 1013,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2017.

Acts 2011, No. 1214, § 1.