24 LC 33 9550
House Bill 874
By: Representatives Hawkins of the 27
th
, Erwin of the 32
nd
, Jones of the 47
th
, Greene of the
154
th
, Cooper of the 45
th
, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
1
Annotated, relating to health, so as to require automated external defibrillators in all schools;2
to provide for definitions; to provide for the establishment of emergency action plans to3
address a person in cardiac arrest; to provide for internal response teams; to provide for4
practice drills; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other5
purposes.6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7
SECTION 1.8
Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,9
relating to health, is amended by revising Code Section 20-2-775, relating to automated10
external defibrillators required in high schools, requirements, and funding, as follows:11
"20-2-775.12
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
13
(1) 'Automated 'automated external defibrillator' means a defibrillator which:14
(1)(A) Is capable of cardiac rhythm analysis;15
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(2)(B) Will charge and be capable of being activated to deliver a countershock after16
electrically detecting the presence of certain cardiac dysrhythmias; and17
(3)(C) Is capable of continuously recording cardiac dysrhythmia at the scene with a18
mechanism for transfer and storage or for printing for review subsequent to use.19
(2) 'Emergency action plan' means the plan established pursuant to paragraph (5) of20
subsection (c) of this Code section to provide for an emergency response to a person in21
cardiac arrest.22
(3) 'Internal response team' means the team of school personnel established pursuant to23
paragraph (7) of subsection (c) of this Code section responsible for oversight of an24
emergency response to a person in cardiac arrest and implementation of the emergency25
action plan.26
(4) 'School' means a public school in this state which provides K-12 education.27
(b) No later than July 1, 2008 2025, each public high school in this state which has an28
interscholastic athletics program shall have at least one functional automated external29
defibrillator on site at such school at all times and easily accessible during all school hours30
and during any school related function, including athletic practices, athletic competitions,31
and other occasions where students and others will be present, for use during emergencies.32
(c) Each high school possessing and maintaining an automated external defibrillator shall:33
(1) Ensure that each member of the internal response team and any other expected users34
of the automated external defibrillator receive American Heart Association or American35
Red Cross training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator36
use or complete an equivalent nationally recognized course;37
(2) Notify the appropriate emergency medical services system of the existence and38
location of the each automated external defibrillator prior to said automated external39
defibrillator being placed in use;40
(3) Ensure that the automated external defibrillator is maintained and tested according41
to the manufacturer's operational guidelines;42
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(4) Ensure that there is involvement of a licensed physician or other person authorized
43
by the Georgia Composite Medical Board in the site's automated external defibrillator44
program to ensure compliance with requirements for training, notification, and45
maintenance; and
46
(5) Establish a written emergency action plan that establishes specific steps to take during47
a cardiac emergency in a school setting. Such plan shall be designed to provide for an48
effective system for communication between members of the internal response team and49
other school officials, ensuring Ensure that the internal response team or other designated50
personnel activate the emergency medical services system as soon as reasonably possible51
after any person renders emergency care or treatment to a person in cardiac arrest by52
using an automated external defibrillator and reports report any clinical use of the53
automated external defibrillator to the licensed physician or other person authorized by54
the Georgia Composite Medical Board who is supervising the program., and ensuring that55
emergency medical services personnel are led directly to the exact location of the person56
in cardiac arrest;57
(6) Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year and each school year thereafter, conduct a58
minimum of two emergency action plan practice drills per school year, with at least one59
per semester. One such practice drill may be a tabletop drill to walk through a60
hypothetical scenario and the courses of action a school will need to take before, during,61
and after a cardiac emergency. The emergency action plan practice drills shall include62
various locations on school grounds and responses to different hypothetical situations;63
(7) Establish a designated internal response team composed of:64
(A) At least five school staff members;65
(B) One or more designated team leads trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and66
automated external defibrillator use and responsible for oversight of an emergency67
response;68
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(C) One or more designated cardiopulmonary resuscitation leads trained in69
cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use;70
(D) One or more designated automated external defibrillator leads, responsible for71
knowing the location of automated external defibrillators, retrieving automated external72
defibrillators, and maintenance of automated external defibrillators; and73
(E) One or more designated communication leads responsible for activating the74
emergency medical services system, facilitating directions to the person in cardiac75
arrest for emergency medical services personnel upon arrival at the school, and76
coordinating communications with the designated team lead or leads; and77
(8) Apprise all school personnel of the location of automated external defibrillators and78
the members of the internal response team.79
(d) Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the Department of Education shall80
provide funds to local school systems to assist in the purchase of automated external81
defibrillators pursuant to this Code section.82
(e) The department and local school systems shall use diligent efforts to identify private83
sources of funding or donation of funding and equipment to meet the requirements of this84
Code section."85
SECTION 2.86
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.87
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