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Family testimony prompts delay on bill to set student-athlete health advisory process
Summary
Representative Harold Hardaway’s bill to establish a parent advisory process on student-athlete safety drew emotional testimony from the family of a teen who died from an undiagnosed heart condition; the committee agreed to roll the measure for a week to allow sponsors to refine an amendment and pursue a pilot program partnership.
Representative Harold M. (Hardaway) presented House Bill 11-13 to create a process for parent participation in advising the Department of Health on safety and care protocols for student-athletes. The committee paused further action and agreed to roll the bill for one week after family members of a deceased athlete described a planned pilot and urged the committee to refine the proposal.
Why it matters: Sponsors said the bill would set a voluntary advisory structure and pilot screening program aimed at identifying otherwise undetected conditions that can lead to sudden medical emergencies among student-athletes; committee members heard firsthand accounts from family members who said a pilot is already planned in Memphis.
What happened in committee
Representative Hardaway briefly explained the bill’s intent: to create a parent advisory mechanism focused on safety and care of student-athletes and to enable a pilot screening program in cooperation with health providers. Without taking a committee vote, the sponsor and the chair agreed to hold the bill for a week to finalize an amendment and related implementation details.
Family testimony and pilot details
Dennis Bridal Sr., identifying himself as "the father of Dennis Price junior," described his son’s death and urged the committee to act. "My son, Dennis Price junior, passed away at 16 years old from an undiagnosed heart condition of the undiagnosed heart condition, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy," Bridal said. He told the committee his son had yearly physicals and appeared healthy.
Reginald Shaw, who said he is the uncle of the deceased teen, asked the committee to support the bill so "we can fix it for another family" and prevent similar tragedies.
Representative Hardaway and supporters said they have a pilot arrangement with Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis and a cardiologist (Dr. Ryan Stevens) to begin a school-based pilot of more comprehensive physicals; sponsors said the pilot was scheduled to begin on April 10 in a Memphis school. Committee members thanked the speakers and agreed to allow the sponsor time to work on an amendment before returning the bill to the calendar.
Discussion vs. decision
This session recorded discussion and public testimony but no formal committee vote. Committee leadership announced the bill would be rolled one week to permit amendment work and to allow sponsors to provide the committee with the planned pilot’s details.
Speakers and roles (as recorded in committee)
- Representative Harold M. Hardaway — State Representative, sponsor (introduced the bill and requested a brief presentation). - Dennis Bridal Sr. — Father and private citizen; spoke as a family representative (Dennis Price Junior Foundation). - Reginald Shaw — Family member and private citizen; public commenter. - Representative Johnson — Committee member who noted medical conditions (Marfan syndrome) as an example supporting deeper screening.
Next steps
Representative Hardaway will work with colleagues and committee staff on a drafted amendment and implementation details; the committee rolled the bill for one week to allow the sponsor to present a refined version for consideration.
