Lawmaker will amend proposal to require school athletes to get electrocardiogram
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<p align="justify">A state lawmaker plans to revise her proposal to require school athletes to get an electrocardiogram as part of their required physical exams.
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<p align="justify">Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, said Friday she would amend her House Bill 4437 next week so it would apply only to Chicago, rather than the entire state.
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<p align="justify">The change is an effort to attract more support from lawmakers on the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, which would have to approve the measure before it could advance to the House floor, she said.
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<p align="justify">At least one committee member, though, remained skeptical.
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<p align="justify">"My question is still, who's going to pay for it?" said Rep. Suzanne Bassi, R-Palatine.
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<p align="justify">Also unclear, she said, is who would bear responsibility for fulfilling the EKG requirement: physicians, school districts, insurance companies or parents.
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<p align="justify">Flowers said she believes either insurance companies or athletes' parents would pay for the EKGs.
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<p align="justify">She said she got the idea for the legislation after reading news stories about young athletes who died of previously undetected heart problems.
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<p align="justify">"The purpose of this is to save children's lives," said Flowers, who also proposed the legislation last year.
<p align="justify">Journal Star, Peoria
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