Chapter 336

2016 -- S 2494 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 07/06/2016

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Paiva Weed, Algiere, Goodwin, and Coyne

Date Introduced: February 25, 2016

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

16-21-33.1. Automatic external defibrillators. – (a) Legislative findings:

(1) Approximately three hundred twenty-five thousand (325,000) Americans suffer

sudden cardiac arrest ("SCA") each year and more than ninety-five percent (95%) of them die

before reaching the hospital;

(2) In the population of Rhode Island, an estimated one thousand (1,000) residents will

die of cardiac arrest every year;

(3) No official statistics have been gathered about SCA in children, however experts

estimate about three hundred (300) deaths because of SCA every year for people under the age of

twenty-one (21) or about one tenth of one percent (.001%);

(4) This means that at least one person under the age of twenty-one (21) years, most

likely a student, will die due to athletics related SCA every year in Rhode Island;

(5) If defibrillation is performed within five (5) to seven (7) minutes, chances of survival

are increased by forty-nine percent (49%). Every minute that goes by without defibrillation

reduces the chance of survival by seven percent (7%) to ten percent (10%);

(6) Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are extremely accurate computerized

devices that can be operated by the average person;

(7) AEDs are inexpensive and grants for AEDs are mostly given to nonprofit

organizations, such as schools; and

(8) AEDs can be acquired through grants from various organizations or through

government agencies.

(b) All high schools and middle schools, whether they are public or privately run, shall

provide and maintain on-site functional automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in quantities

and types, deemed by the commissioner of education, in consultation with the director of health,

to be adequate to ensure ready and appropriate access for use during emergencies. Whenever

school facilities are used for school-sponsored or school-approved curricular or extracurricular

activities, and whenever a school-sponsored athletic contest is held at any location, the school

officials and administrators responsible for such school facility or athletic contest shall ensure the

presence of at least one person who is properly trained in the operation and use of an AED. Such

training may be conducted by qualified personnel, including, but not limited to, municipal fire

and police department employees.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on August 1, 2017.

========

LC003643/SUB A

========