Bill Sponsors
Tikoian, Ciccone, Gallo, McKenney, Paolino, Bissaillon, DiPalma, Murray, Patalano, and LaMountain
Committee
Senate Education
Summary
Select
This legislation amends existing school safety laws to require all public and private middle and high schools in Rhode Island to develop comprehensive cardiac emergency plans. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, schools must implement a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) and, if they have sports programs, an Athletic Emergency Action Plan (EAP). The bill mandates that Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) be accessible in unlocked locations with clear signage. Additionally, it requires that coaches and appropriate school staff receive training in CPR and AED use to ensure a coordinated response to sudden cardiac arrest incidents.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Enhances public health and safety within the education system by mandating life-saving equipment and training, ensuring that schools are better prepared to protect the well-being of students and staff.
- Promotes equity in student safety by requiring both public and private schools to adhere to the same rigorous standards for cardiac emergency preparedness, ensuring all children have access to life-saving measures regardless of the school they attend.
- Empowers school employees and coaches with essential CPR and AED training, fostering a community-oriented approach to care and responsibility for the welfare of others.
Cons for Progressives
- May impose an unfunded mandate on under-resourced public school districts, potentially diverting funds from other critical educational or social support programs if state funding is not explicitly guaranteed.
- Reliance on the ability to accept gifts and grants for AED purchases could exacerbate inequalities between wealthy and lower-income districts, as wealthier communities can more easily fundraise for equipment.
- Delegates regulatory standards to private organizations like the American Heart Association rather than keeping full democratic control within public health agencies, potentially prioritizing specific corporate or organizational interests.
Pros for Conservatives
- Prioritizes the protection of life by ensuring immediate response capabilities for sudden cardiac arrest, aligning with the fundamental value of preserving the lives of children and community members.
- Encourages the use of private donations, gifts, and grants to fund the purchase of equipment, potentially reducing the direct financial burden on taxpayers.
- Focuses on practical skills and preparedness for school staff and coaches, ensuring that adults in authority are competent and responsible for the safety of those under their care.
Cons for Conservatives
- Imposes strict government mandates on private high schools and middle schools, interfering with the autonomy of private institutions to manage their own safety protocols and budgets.
- Creates new layers of bureaucracy and regulatory compliance for school administrators, requiring the development of specific written plans and adherence to external guidelines.
- Potentially increases costs for local school districts through mandatory training and equipment maintenance requirements, which could lead to calls for higher local property taxes.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Students
- School staff
- Coaches
- Parents
- School administrators
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
Amount unknown
Revenue Generated
None
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/16/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Education
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 16-21-33.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21 entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is hereby amended to read as follows:
16-21-33.1.Automatic external defibrillators Automated external defibrillators, cardiac emergency response plans, and athletic emergency action plans.
(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.
(1) More than three hundred fifty-six thousand (356,000) sudden cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital each year in the United States. About ten percent (10%) of people survive.
(2) It is estimated that there are more than twenty-three thousand (23,000) children under the age of eighteen (18) who experience sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year in the United States. Almost forty percent (40%) of these events are sports related.
(3) In schools with automated external defibrillators (AEDs), approximately seventy percent (70%) of children survive sudden cardiac arrest, seven (7) times the overall survival rate for children.
(4) The safety of students, school staff, visitors and spectators can be enhanced with a coordinated, practiced response plan where teams are trained and empowered to administer lifesaving care until emergency medical services (EMS) arrive on scene.
(5) When sudden cardiac arrest occurs outside of a hospital, survival more than doubles when people nearby take action by dialing 911, starting CPR and using a publicly available AED compared to waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
(b) Definitions: As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
(1) “Athletic emergency action plan (EAP)” means written guidelines and templates for documentation of emergency planning to help prepare individuals for a catastrophic injury situation within sports.
(2) “Automated external defibrillator (AED)” means a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can potentially stop an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest.
(3) “Cardiac emergency response plan (CERP)” means a written document that establishes the specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in any setting, be it a school, community organization, workplace, or sports facility.
(4) “Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)” means when the heart malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly. If not treated within minutes, it quickly leads to death.
(b)(c) 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 LC003168 - Page 2 of 5 types, deemed by the commissioner of education, in consultation with the director of health, accordance with guidelines set by the American Heart Association or an organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care, and as outlined in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, 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 cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and 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.
(d) Establishing cardiac emergency response plans in schools.
(1) Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, each high school and middle school shall develop a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds.
(2) Each CERP shall integrate evidence-based core elements, such as those recommended by American Heart Association guidelines or nationally-recognized, evidence-based standards focused on emergency cardiovascular care.
(3) Appropriate AED placement shall be determined by the CERP in accordance with guidelines set by the American Heart Association or an organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care. AEDs shall be identified with appropriate signage and made available in an unlocked location on school property. AEDs shall be tested and maintained according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines. Notification shall be provided to the appropriate emergency medical services provider regarding the AED, the type acquired, and its location.
(4) Appropriate school staff shall be trained in first aid, CPR, and AED use. Training shall be consistent with national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines. Staff trained shall be determined by the CERP including, but not limited to, licensed coaches, school nurses, and athletic trainers.
(e) Establishing athletic emergency action plans (EAPs) for high school and middle school athletic venues and events.
(1) Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, each high school and middle school with an athletic department or organized athletic program shall develop an athletic emergency action plan (EAP) to respond to incidents of sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency during a school athletic practice or event. The EAP shall follow nationally-recognized LC003168 - Page 3 of 5 recommendations and be venue-specific, posted, widely distributed, and rehearsed annually.
(2) An AED shall be clearly marked and easily accessible in an unlocked location at each school athletic venue during any school-sponsored athletic event or team practice in which students of the school are participating. AEDs shall be tested and maintained according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines. Notification shall be provided to the appropriate emergency medical services provider regarding the AED, the type acquired, and its location.
(3) All high school and middle school coaches shall obtain and maintain training in first aid, CPR, and AED use. Certification in CPR and AED use shall be consistent with national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines.
(f) Implementation.
(1) The commissioner of education, in collaboration with the director of the department of health, may adopt rules and regulations to implement this section.
(2) The commissioner of education, in collaboration with the director of the department of health, shall establish a process to monitor compliance with this section.
(3) A local education agency may accept gifts, grants, and donations, including in-kind donations designated for the purchase of an AED that meets the standards established by the United States Food and Drug Administration and for the costs incurred to inspect and maintain such device and train staff in the use of such device.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
16-21-33.1.
(a) Legislative findings:
(1) More than three hundred fifty-six thousand (356,000) sudden cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital each year in the United States. About ten percent (10%) of people survive.
(2) It is estimated that there are more than twenty-three thousand (23,000) children under the age of eighteen (18) who experience sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year in the United States. Almost forty percent (40%) of these events are sports related.
(3) In schools with automated external defibrillators (AEDs), approximately seventy percent (70%) of children survive sudden cardiac arrest, seven (7) times the overall survival rate for children.
(4) The safety of students, school staff, visitors and spectators can be enhanced with a coordinated, practiced response plan where teams are trained and empowered to administer lifesaving care until emergency medical services (EMS) arrive on scene.
(5) When sudden cardiac arrest occurs outside of a hospital, survival more than doubles when people nearby take action by dialing 911, starting CPR and using a publicly available AED compared to waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
(b) Definitions: As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
(1) “Athletic emergency action plan (EAP)” means written guidelines and templates for documentation of emergency planning to help prepare individuals for a catastrophic injury situation within sports.
(2) “Automated external defibrillator (AED)” means a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can potentially stop an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest.
(3) “Cardiac emergency response plan (CERP)” means a written document that establishes the specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in any setting, be it a school, community organization, workplace, or sports facility.
(4) “Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)” means when the heart malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly. If not treated within minutes, it quickly leads to death.
(d) Establishing cardiac emergency response plans in schools.
(1) Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, each high school and middle school shall develop a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds.
(2) Each CERP shall integrate evidence-based core elements, such as those recommended by American Heart Association guidelines or nationally-recognized, evidence-based standards focused on emergency cardiovascular care.
(3) Appropriate AED placement shall be determined by the CERP in accordance with guidelines set by the American Heart Association or an organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care. AEDs shall be identified with appropriate signage and made available in an unlocked location on school property. AEDs shall be tested and maintained according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines. Notification shall be provided to the appropriate emergency medical services provider regarding the AED, the type acquired, and its location.
(4) Appropriate school staff shall be trained in first aid, CPR, and AED use. Training shall be consistent with national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines. Staff trained shall be determined by the CERP including, but not limited to, licensed coaches, school nurses, and athletic trainers.
(e) Establishing athletic emergency action plans (EAPs) for high school and middle school athletic venues and events.
(1) Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, each high school and middle school with an athletic department or organized athletic program shall develop an athletic emergency action plan (EAP) to respond to incidents of sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency during a school athletic practice or event. The EAP shall follow nationally-recognized LC003168 - Page 3 of 5 recommendations and be venue-specific, posted, widely distributed, and rehearsed annually.
(2) An AED shall be clearly marked and easily accessible in an unlocked location at each school athletic venue during any school-sponsored athletic event or team practice in which students of the school are participating. AEDs shall be tested and maintained according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines. Notification shall be provided to the appropriate emergency medical services provider regarding the AED, the type acquired, and its location.
(3) All high school and middle school coaches shall obtain and maintain training in first aid, CPR, and AED use. Certification in CPR and AED use shall be consistent with national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines.
(f) Implementation.
(1) The commissioner of education, in collaboration with the director of the department of health, may adopt rules and regulations to implement this section.
(2) The commissioner of education, in collaboration with the director of the department of health, shall establish a process to monitor compliance with this section.
(3) A local education agency may accept gifts, grants, and donations, including in-kind donations designated for the purchase of an AED that meets the standards established by the United States Food and Drug Administration and for the costs incurred to inspect and maintain such device and train staff in the use of such device.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.