2016 -- H 7275

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LC003771

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

     Introduced By: Representatives Malik, Hull, Bennett, Azzinaro, and Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: January 21, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. 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 (.1%));

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

student, will die due to an 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 to ten percent (7-10%);

     (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.

     SECTION 2. 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. Automated external defibrillators (AED). -- All high schools and middle

schools, whether they are public or privately run, must have a functional automated external

defibrillators (AED) on school grounds at all times. There shall be a functional AED present on

or in the playing field, court, or arena at all sporting events involving school teams.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on August 1, 2016.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

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     This act would mandate that all high schools and middle schools whether public or

private, and all athletic fields or other locations where high school or middle schools compete in

sporting events, have a functional Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on site at all times.

     This act would take effect on August 1, 2016.

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