2025 -- H 5083

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LC000120

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS

REQUIRED AT PUBLIC PLACES AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Fellela, Serpa, Messier, Corvese, Ackerman, and
Caldwell

     Date Introduced: January 16, 2025

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 23-6.5-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-6.5 entitled "Automated

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External Defibrillators Required at Public Places and Healthcare Facilities" is hereby amended to

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read as follows:

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     23-6.5-4. Definitions.

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     The following definitions govern the construction of this chapter:

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     (1) “Healthcare facility” means any healthcare facility licensed by the department of health

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including any institutional health-service provider, facility, or institution, place, building, agency,

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or portion thereof, whether a partnership or corporation, whether public or private, whether

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organized for profit or not, used, operated, or engaged in providing healthcare services, including,

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but not limited to: hospitals; nursing facilities; rehabilitation centers; kidney disease treatment

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centers; health maintenance organizations; and facilities providing surgical treatment to patients

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not requiring hospitalization (surgi-centers); hospice care; and physician ambulatory-surgery

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centers and podiatry ambulatory-surgery centers providing surgical treatment. The term “healthcare

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facility” also includes organized ambulatory-care facilities that are not part of a hospital but that

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are organized and operated to provide healthcare services to outpatients, such as: central-services

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facilities serving more than one healthcare facility or healthcare provider; treatment centers;

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diagnostic centers; outpatient clinics; infirmaries and health centers; school-based health centers;

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and neighborhood health centers. The term “healthcare facility” also includes a practitioner’s

 

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(physician, dentist, or other healthcare provider) office or group of practitioners’ offices (whether

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owned and/or operated by a hospital or an affiliate of a hospital or an individual practitioner, alone

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or as a member of a partnership, professional service corporation, organization, or association).

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     (2) “Public place” means an enclosed area capable of holding three hundred (300) people

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or more and to which the public is invited or in which the public is permitted, including, but not

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limited to: banks; bars; educational facilities; laundromats; public or private golf courses; public

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transportation facilities; reception areas; restaurants; retail food production and marketing

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establishments; retail service establishments; retail stores; shopping malls; sports arenas;

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government offices; theaters; and waiting rooms. A private residence is not a “public place” unless

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it is used as a childcare or adult daycare facility.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS

REQUIRED AT PUBLIC PLACES AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

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     This act would require public or private golf courses to have an automated external

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defibrillator on the premises.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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