Second Chance Act takes effect, bringing proactive cardiac screenings to Florida student athletes

Story Submitted The Second Chance Act officially took effect statewide on Wednesday, July 1, requiring all high school student-athletes to undergo a medical evaluation, including an electrocardiogram (EKG), before participating in school-sanctioned sports. House Bill 1135, sponsored by Representative Jason Shoaf and carried in the Senate by Senator Corey Simon during the 2025 legislative session, was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis last summer. The law is named in honor of Chance Gainer, a star athlete at Port St. Joe High School who collapsed and died from a sudden cardiac arrest during a rivalry football game. “Today marks more than just the start of a new law; it mark