A. Each school shall develop and implement a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel who are to respond to incidents involving a person experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds or during a school athletic activity. Each cardiac emergency response plan shall:
- (1) be developed and implemented using core elements that are nationally recognized and evidence-based;
- (2) identify specific school personnel who will take action when a person experiences a sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency;
- (3) establish protocols for school personnel identified by the cardiac emergency response plan to follow when a person experiences a sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency;
- (4) determine appropriate locations for automated external defibrillators to be installed or made available;
- (5) provide for routine maintenance of the automated external defibrillator; and
- (6) be updated when necessary to be consistent with evidence-based guidelines.
- B. Every school in the state shall install an automated external defibrillator. Installed automated external defibrillators shall be maintained and tested according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines.
- C. An automated external defibrillator shall be clearly marked and easily accessible during each school athletic activity.
- D. The department shall adopt and promulgate rules for the training of school employees on the use of automated external defibrillators in a manner consistent with standards adopted by the American heart association.
E. The requirements of Subsections A and B of this section shall be fulfilled by all:
- (1) public non-charter high schools no later than the 2026-2027 school year; and
- (2) elementary schools, middle schools, charter schools and private schools no later than the 2027-2028 school year.
- F. As used in this section, "school athletic activity" means a sport or activity organized by a school or school district that involves a physical game or competition against another team, club or entity or practice or preparation for the physical game or competition.
History: Laws 2025, ch. 129, § 3; 2026, ch. 66, § 1.
ANNOTATIONS
The 2026 amendment, effective May 20, 2026, required automated external defibrillators to be available during all school athletic activities, and defined "school athletic activity" as used in this section; in Subsection A, after "school grounds" added "or during a school athletic activity"; added a new Subsection C and redesignated former Subsections C and D as Subsections D and E, respectively; in Subsection D, after the subsection designation, deleted "No later than January 1, 2026"; and added Subsection F.