An Act To Require Automated External Defibrillators in Extracurricular Activities in Kindergarten to Grade 12
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6304 is enacted to read:
1. Automated external defibrillators. A school administrative unit shall equip every school building in the unit’s jurisdiction with an automated external defibrillator, referred to in this section as an "AED." An AED must be placed in an accessible, central location in the school building and be available for a secondary school athletic event inside or outside of the school building. A school administrative unit shall follow the requirements of Title 22, section 2150-C, subsection 3 in the possession, storage and use of an AED. For purposes of this section, "automated external defibrillator" has the same meaning as in Title 22, section 2150-C, subsection 1.
2. Procedures regarding AEDs. A school administrative unit shall appoint a committee of unit employees to administer the requirements of this section. A committee created under this subsection shall develop and implement procedures for the storage and use of an AED. Procedures developed under this subsection must conform to American Heart Association and National Federation of State High School Associations requirements for AEDs. Procedures developed under this subsection must provide for: A. Informing all unit employees, students and the local municipal law enforcement agency, fire department and emergency response agency of the presence and location of the AED for each school building;
B. The placement of clearly visible signage near each AED location and the quick and easy retrieval of an AED, which may not be locked or secured against public access; and
C. Instructions for a unit employee or student to follow during a perceived sudden cardiac arrest emergency, including a written and verbal emergency response protocol to a perceived sudden cardiac arrest emergency, alerting an appropriate emergency response authority and listing the prohibitions involving the use of an AED as detailed in Title 22, section 2150-C, subsection 2.
3. Immunity. The following are immune from civil liability for damages arising out of acts or omissions under this section relating to possession, storage or use of an AED or preparing for and responding to a perceived sudden cardiac arrest emergency, absent gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct: A. A person that acquires an AED;
B. A person that owns, manages or is otherwise responsible for the premises on which an AED is located;
C. A person authorized under Title 22, section 2150-C, subsection 2 who retrieves, uses, attempts to use or fails to use an AED in response to a perceived sudden cardiac arrest emergency;
D. A physician or other authorized person who issues a prescription for the purchase of an AED;
E. A person that is involved with the design, management or operation of an AED program; and
F. A person that provides instruction in the use of an AED.
summary
This bill requires every school administrative unit to place an automated external defibrillator in each of the unit's school buildings and make it available for secondary school athletic events inside and outside the building. The bill requires the school administrative unit to place the defibrillator in an easily accessible location, notify employees, students and local emergency response agencies of its location and develop procedures for the possession, storage and use of the defibrillator and for perceived sudden cardiac arrest emergencies. This bill also provides immunity for people who possess, store and use an automated external defibrillator under the provisions of the bill.