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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
cardiac emergency response plans; school
Purpose
Requires each public school, by August 1, 2027, to adopt a cardiac emergency response plan and outlines procedures and policies that a cardiac emergency response plan must include. Appropriates $1,000,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2027 to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to implement the cardiac emergency response plan requirements.
Background
Each public school that provides instruction to students in any of grades
9 through 12 and that sponsors an athletic team or sports program must provide
an automated external defibrillator (AED) at each school campus and school-sponsored
athletic event and ensure that each AED
is: 1) in an unlocked location that is clearly marked and easily accessible
both during the school day and at each school-sponsored athletic event; 2) in a
location from which the AED may be promptly retrieved and used at the school or
school-sponsored athletic event; 3) in a location that complies with guidelines
that are established by a nationally recognized organization that is focused on
emergency cardiovascular care; and 4) maintained in good working order and
tested according to the manufacturer's guidelines (A.R.S.
§ 15-120.07).
Statute requires each school district governing board and charter school governing body to prescribe policies and procedures as outlined for the emergency administration of epinephrine delivery systems by a trained school employee. A school district governing board or charter school governing body may prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for the emergency administration of inhalers by a trained school employee or nurse (A.R.S. §§ 15-189.04; 15-341; and 15-342).
S.B. 1131 appropriates $1,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADE.
Provisions
1. Requires each public school, by August 1, 2027, to adopt a cardiac emergency response plan that includes:
a) policies and procedures for school personnel who might respond to an incident in which an individual experiences sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds;
b) evidence-based core elements that are recommended by a nationally recognized organization that is focused on emergency cardiovascular care;
c) policies that prescribe the appropriate number and placement of AEDs at each school site; and
d) procedures to notify the appropriate first aid, ambulance, rescue squad or other appropriate emergency medical services provider when the school acquires an AED for a school site and the type and location of each AED.
2. Specifies that the policies and procedures for school personnel responding to an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds must:
a) establish a cardiac emergency response team compose of school personnel; and
b) require members of the cardiac emergency response team to complete training in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of AEDs that follows guidelines prescribed by a nationally recognized organization that is focused on emergency cardiovascular care.
3. Specifies that the policies that prescribe the appropriate number and placements of AEDs at each school site must ensure that each AED is:
a) in an unlocked location that is clearly marked and easily accessible during the school day;
b) in a location from which the AED may be retrieved and used at the school site within three minutes;
c) in a location that complies with the guidelines that are established by a nationally recognized organization that is focused on evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care; and
d) maintained in good working order and tested according to the manufacturer's guidelines.
4. Appropriates $1,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADE to implement the cardiac emergency response plan requirements.
5. Directs ADE to:
a) distribute the appropriated monies to public schools that offer instruction to students in any combination of kindergarten programs and grades 1 through 12; and
b) prioritize distributions to public schools in which at least 50 percent of students are eligible for the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program.
6. Allows a public school to use the appropriated monies for:
a) purchasing or maintaining AEDs;
b) purchasing CPR training kits;
c) providing the training in first aid, CPR and the use of AEDs to school personnel; or
d) purchasing other goods or services that are identified by ADE and are necessary for the implementation of the cardiac emergency response plan requirements.
7. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.
8. Allows a public school to accept gifts, grants, donations and in-kind donations, to satisfy the cardiac emergency response plan requirements, including to purchase and maintain AEDs and to provide the required training for school personnel.
9. Allows a public school to provide the cardiac emergency response team training to school personnel who are not members of the cardiac emergency response team.
10. Defines AED.
11. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 26, 2026
MH/KP/hk