Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

Delaware House Bill HB71 Latest Draft

Bill / Draft Version

                            SPONSOR:      Rep. Harris & Sen. Poore           HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY       HOUSE BILL NO. 71       AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 RELATING TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.      

     

     SPONSOR:      Rep. Harris & Sen. Poore     

SPONSOR: Rep. Harris & Sen. Poore

 SPONSOR:  

 Rep. Harris & Sen. Poore 

   

 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

   

 HOUSE BILL NO. 71 

   

 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 RELATING TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS. 

   

  BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:    Section 1. Amend 303, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:     303. Regulations, policies, and procedures.    (e) The Board shall adopt regulations applicable to a member school regarding student athletes and awareness, recognition, and management of sudden cardiac arrest. The Board shall, through either regulation or policy adopted under regulation, do at least all of the following:    (4)  Hold a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification for each school-appointed head coach. The certification must include training on the use of an automated external defibrillator.    (f) The Board shall adopt regulations relating to secondary and middle school interscholastic athletics that do at least all of the following:    (1) Require all coaches to obtain and maintain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).Training and certification in CPR and AED use must be consistent with national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines.    (2)  Require that each school with an athletic department or program develop an athletic Emergency Action Plan (Plan) to respond to incidents of cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency during a school athletic practice or event. The Plan must follow nationally recognized recommendations and be venue-specific, widely distributed, posted, and rehearsed annually.    (3) Require that an AED be clearly marked and easily accessible in an unlocked location at each school athletic venue and event. The AED must be accessible during the school day and any school-sponsored athletic event or team practice in which students of the school are participating.  The AED must be placed in accordance with nationally recognized guidelines focused on emergency cardiovascular care.   (4) Require that AEDs be tested and maintained according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines.   (5) Require notification is provided to the Office of Emergency Medical Services regarding the AED, the type acquired, and its location.         

 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE: 

  Section 1. Amend 303, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: 

   303. Regulations, policies, and procedures. 

  (e) The Board shall adopt regulations applicable to a member school regarding student athletes and awareness, recognition, and management of sudden cardiac arrest. The Board shall, through either regulation or policy adopted under regulation, do at least all of the following: 

  (4)  Hold a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification for each school-appointed head coach. The certification must include training on the use of an automated external defibrillator. 

  (f) The Board shall adopt regulations relating to secondary and middle school interscholastic athletics that do at least all of the following: 

  (1) Require all coaches to obtain and maintain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).Training and certification in CPR and AED use must be consistent with national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines. 

  (2)  Require that each school with an athletic department or program develop an athletic Emergency Action Plan (Plan) to respond to incidents of cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency during a school athletic practice or event. The Plan must follow nationally recognized recommendations and be venue-specific, widely distributed, posted, and rehearsed annually. 

  (3) Require that an AED be clearly marked and easily accessible in an unlocked location at each school athletic venue and event. The AED must be accessible during the school day and any school-sponsored athletic event or team practice in which students of the school are participating.  The AED must be placed in accordance with nationally recognized guidelines focused on emergency cardiovascular care. 

 (4) Require that AEDs be tested and maintained according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines. 

 (5) Require notification is provided to the Office of Emergency Medical Services regarding the AED, the type acquired, and its location.    

   

  SYNOPSIS   This Act requires the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association to promulgate regulations requiring all coaches to have CPR, first aid, and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. It also requires schools with an athletic program or department to have an Emergency Action Plan for responding to a cardiac arrest event at an athletic event or practice. It requires that an AED be accessible in a clearly marked, unlocked location at any athletic event or venue. Finally, the regulations must require testing and maintenance of AEDs and notification to the Office of Emergency Medical Services regarding the AED acquisition and its location.       

 SYNOPSIS 

 This Act requires the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association to promulgate regulations requiring all coaches to have CPR, first aid, and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. It also requires schools with an athletic program or department to have an Emergency Action Plan for responding to a cardiac arrest event at an athletic event or practice. It requires that an AED be accessible in a clearly marked, unlocked location at any athletic event or venue. Finally, the regulations must require testing and maintenance of AEDs and notification to the Office of Emergency Medical Services regarding the AED acquisition and its location.