An Act To Require Public Schools To Offer Instruction Related to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and the Use of an Automated External Defibrillator

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6304,  as enacted by PL 2007, c. 267, §1, is amended to read:

§ 6304. Automated external defibrillators and cardiopulmonary resuscitation

School boards may place automated external defibrillators in occupied school buildings and at school athletic events. School personnel and members of the public may receive training on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use automated external defibrillators in order to acquire the skills and confidence to respond to emergencies. In accordance with rules adopted by the department, public schools shall offer training to students on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use automated external defibrillators. Rules adopted under this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Sec. 2. Standards for instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use. The Commissioner of Education shall establish, by rule, standards for instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or "CPR," and automated external defibrillator, or "AED," use pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6304. The commissioner shall base the standards for instruction in CPR and AED use on the programs established by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross or another program that is nationally recognized and uses the most current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular guidelines and incorporates psychomotor skills development into the instruction. The standards for instruction in AED use may not require the use of an AED but must include an explanation of AED use. A licensed teacher may not be required to be certified as a CPR or AED trainer or to facilitate, provide or oversee CPR or AED instruction. The rule must require that a course that results in CPR and AED certification must be taught by a certified CPR or AED instructor. The rule must be designed to ensure that the requirements of Title 20-A, section 6304 can be met by a public school without the public school's being required to expand or modify its activity so as to necessitate additional expenditures from local revenues.

SUMMARY

This bill requires public schools to offer training to students on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use automated external defibrillators in accordance with rules adopted by the Department of Education. The rules must be designed to ensure that the training requirements can be met without a public school's being required to expand or modify its activity so as to necessitate additional expenditures from local revenues.