2023 -- H 5500

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LC001274

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

     Introduced By: Representatives Fenton-Fung, Noret, Messier, Biah, Shallcross Smith,
Ackerman, Cotter, Spears, and Newberry

     Date Introduced: February 10, 2023

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     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.

     (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, and elementary 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 upon passage.

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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 require elementary schools to provide and maintain onsite 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 for use in emergencies.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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