Pupil health: extreme weather conditions: physical activity.

Existing law requires the State Department of Education to adopt rules and regulations that it deems necessary and proper to secure the establishment of courses in physical education in the elementary and secondary schools of the state. Existing law requires the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) , in consultation with the State Department of Education, to develop, by no later than July 1, 2024, guidelines, procedures, and safety standards for the prevention and management of exertional heat illness, as provided. This bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2026, and in consultation with relevant stakeholders and experts, to compile and post on the department's internet website, standardized guidelines specifying temperature thresholds or index ratings that trigger modifications to pupil physical activities during extreme weather conditions, and would require those standardized guidelines to consider relevant factors, including, but not limited to, pupil ages, harmful duration of exposure to extreme weather conditions, overall pupil safety, and available mitigation measures. The bill would authorize the department, in consultation with relevant stakeholders and experts, to use existing resources or frameworks, or both, about temperature thresholds or index ratings that trigger modifications to pupil physical activities during extreme weather conditions to meet those requirements. The bill would require school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools, on or before July 1, 2026, to develop, adopt, and implement weather protocols for extreme weather conditions, and would require the weather protocols to incorporate the standardized guidelines compiled by the department and to detail the specific measures to be taken during extreme weather conditions, as specified. The bill would require the weather protocols to be annually reviewed, evaluated, and, if necessary, updated to incorporate best practices and address any emerging concerns or challenges, and to reflect changes in weather patterns, advances in safety practices, and feedback from stakeholders. The bill would apply these provisions to physical education classes, sports, and athletic practices and games sponsored by a local educational agency, except for those relating to an interscholastic athletic program administered by the CIF, which the bill would instead require to comply with the established CIF guidelines. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would, commencing July 1, 2026, require the department to provide technical assistance to local educational agencies in the implementation of their weather protocols. The bill would make the implementation of these provisions subject to an appropriation made for these purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.