Relating to emergency cardiovascular care at public schools and certain private schools in this state.

The text as introduced · 474 words

90R2529 KRM-F

By: Lalani
H.B. No. 536

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to emergency cardiovascular care at public schools and

certain private schools in this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 22.902(c), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(c) Each school nurse, assistant school nurse, athletic

coach or sponsor, physical education instructor, marching band

director, cheerleading coach, and any other school employee

specified by the commissioner and each student who serves as an

athletic trainer must participate in the instruction in

cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external

defibrillator. A person described by this subsection must receive

and maintain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and

the use of an automated external defibrillator from the American

Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or a similar nationally

recognized guidelines-based organization focused on emergency

cardiovascular care [ association ].

SECTION 2. Section 38.017(a), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) Each school district shall make available at each campus

in the district the number of [ at least one ] automated external

defibrillators [ defibrillator ], as defined by Section 779.001,

Health and Safety Code , necessary for a defibrillator to be

accessible from any location on campus so that a person may provide

emergency care to a person in cardiac arrest within three minutes of

being notified of a possible medical emergency involving cardiac

arrest . A campus defibrillator must be readily available during

any University Interscholastic League athletic competition held on

the campus. In determining the placement of [ location at which to

store ] a campus defibrillator, the principal of the campus shall

consider the guidelines from the American Heart Association or

another organization with expertise in emergency cardiovascular

care and ensure that the defibrillator is clearly marked [ primary

location on campus where students engage in athletic activities ].

SECTION 3. Section 38.018, Education Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) The commissioner shall establish a grant program to

award grants to districts and schools to assist with the

implementation of a cardiac emergency response plan. In awarding

grants, the commissioner shall prioritize districts or schools at

which at least 50 percent of enrolled students are educationally

disadvantaged.

SECTION 4. Not later than the first instructional day of the

2029-2030 school year, each public school to which Section 38.017,

Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies shall make

available the number of automatic external defibrillators as

required by that section.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2027.