08 LC 33
2503S/AP
House
Bill 1031 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By:
Representatives Hembree of the
67th,
England of the
108th,
Dickson of the
6th,
Maxwell of the
17th,
Carter of the
175th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to student health in elementary and secondary
education, so as to require each public high school in this state which has an
interscholastic athletics program to have at least one functional automated
external defibrillator on site at such school at all times for use during
emergencies; to provide for legislative findings; to define a term; to provide
for requirements on maintaining and using the defibrillator; to provide for
state funding; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and
for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
The
General Assembly finds that, although rare, sudden death in teenagers does
occur. The General Assembly further finds that in recent years, there have been
instances of cardiac arrest in high school students participating in
interscholastic athletic events and practices. In instances of cardiac arrest,
time is critical, and even with quick response from emergency personnel, it may
not be fast enough for successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The General
Assembly finds that automated external defibrillators are inexpensive and are
not difficult to operate by lay persons as well as trained emergency personnel.
SECTION
2.
Part
3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to student health in elementary and secondary education, is
amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"20-2-775.
(a)
As used in this Code section, the term 'automated external defibrillator' means
a defibrillator which:
(1)
Is capable of cardiac rhythm analysis;
(2)
Will charge and be capable of being activated to deliver a countershock after
electrically detecting the presence of certain cardiac dysrhythmias;
and
(3)
Is capable of continuously recording cardiac dysrhythmia at the scene with a
mechanism for transfer and storage or for printing for review subsequent to
use.
(b)
No later than July 1, 2008, each public high school in this state which has an
interscholastic athletics program shall have at least one functional automated
external defibrillator on site at such school at all times and easily accessible
during any school related function, including athletic practices, athletic
competitions, and other occasions where students and others will be present,
for use during emergencies.
(c)
Each high school possessing and maintaining an automated external defibrillator
shall:
(1)
Ensure that expected users of the automated external defibrillator receive
American Heart Association or American Red Cross training in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use or complete an equivalent
nationally recognized course;
(2)
Notify the appropriate emergency medical services system of the existence and
location of the automated external defibrillator prior to said automated
external defibrillator being placed in use;
(3)
Ensure that the automated external defibrillator is maintained and tested
according to the manufacturer´s operational guidelines;
(4)
Ensure that there is involvement of a licensed physician or other person
authorized by the composite board in the site´s automated external
defibrillator program to ensure compliance with requirements for training,
notification, and maintenance; and
(5)
Ensure that designated personnel activate the emergency medical services system
as soon as reasonably possible after any person renders emergency care or
treatment to a person in cardiac arrest by using an automated external
defibrillator and reports any clinical use of the automated external
defibrillator to the licensed physician or other person authorized by the
composite board who is supervising the program.
(d)
Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the Department of Education
shall provide funds to local school systems to assist in the purchase of
automated external defibrillators pursuant to this Code section.
(e)
The department and local school systems shall use diligent efforts to identify
private sources of funding or donation of funding and equipment to meet the
requirements of this Code section."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.