A new Florida law mandating heart screenings for high school student athletes went into effect July 1, fulfilling a commitment born from tragedy in Port St. Joe. The Second Chance Act requires all high school student athletes to receive a medical evaluation that includes an electrocardiogram, commonly known as an EKG, before participating in school-sanctioned sports. The legislation, HB 1135, was sponsored by Rep. Jason Shoaf in the House and carried by Sen. Corey Simon in the Senate during the 2025 Legislative Session. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the measure last summer. The law honors Chance Gainer, a standout athlete at Port St. Joe High School who collapsed and died from sudden cardiac arrest during a rivalry football game.
Sudden cardiac arrest represents the leading cause of death among student athletes, accounting for approximately 75 percent of all student athlete deaths. According to research, roughly 1 in every 300 students may have an undiagnosed heart condition with the potential to be life-threatening. For 80 percent of these students, cardiac arrest serves as the first symptom. Implementing EKG screenings allows medical professionals to identify these conditions before they become fatal. Chance Gainer's parents, Equila and JJ, channeled their grief into advocating for the law's passage. "Today marks more than just the start of a new law, it marks a promise kept," Shoaf said, emphasizing that the legislation represents "a promise to every parent in Florida that we will do our best to protect their children."
PanCare of Florida has partnered with Who We Play For to provide free sports physicals and heart screenings to student athletes throughout the region. Evan Ernst, Founder and CEO of Who We Play For, stressed the importance of the measure. "The Second Chance Act represents the state-wide commitment we need to make these heart screenings accessible to every student athlete in our state," Ernst said. He added that the organization operates under the principle that no family should experience the tragedies the Gainer family endured, particularly when such outcomes could be prevented through proper precautionary measures.
As fall practice seasons approach, families should prioritize scheduling their child's required sports physical immediately. Information regarding free EKG screening events is available through the partnering organizations. The law's implementation ensures that student athletes across Florida will have access to potentially lifesaving cardiac evaluations before they compete in school-sanctioned sports.