25 LC 46 1150
House Bill 629
By: Representatives Hawkins of the 27
th
, Cooper of the 45
th
, Newton of the 127
th
, Greene of
the 154
th
, and Mathiak of the 82
nd
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 remove the requirement of having a licensed physician2
in automated external defibrillator programs; to provide for related matters; to repeal3
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5
SECTION 1.6
Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,7
relating to health, is amended by revising Code Section 20-2-775, relating to automated8
external defibrillators required in high schools, requirements, and funding, as follows:9
"20-2-775.10
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:11
(1) 'Automated external defibrillator' means a defibrillator which:12
(A) Is capable of cardiac rhythm analysis;13
(B) Will charge and be capable of being activated to deliver a countershock after14
electrically detecting the presence of certain cardiac dysrhythmias; and15
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(C) Is capable of continuously recording cardiac dysrhythmia at the scene with a
16
mechanism for transfer and storage or for printing for review subsequent to use.17
(2) 'Emergency action plan' means the plan established pursuant to paragraph (5) of18
subsection (c) of this Code section to provide for an emergency response to a person in19
cardiac arrest.20
(3) 'Internal response team' means the team of school personnel established pursuant to21
paragraph (7) of subsection (c) of this Code section responsible for oversight of an22
emergency response to a person in cardiac arrest and implementation of the emergency23
action plan.24
(4) 'School' means a public school in this state which provides K-12 education.25
(b) No later than July 1, 2025, each school in this state shall have at least one functional26
automated external defibrillator on site at such school at all times and easily accessible27
during all school hours and during any school related function, including athletic practices,28
athletic competitions, and other occasions where students and others will be present, for29
use during emergencies.30
(c) Each school shall:31
(1) Ensure that each member of the internal response team and any other expected users32
of the automated external defibrillator receive American Heart Association or American33
Red Cross training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator34
use or complete an equivalent nationally recognized course;35
(2) Notify the appropriate emergency medical services system of the existence and36
location of each automated external defibrillator prior to said automated external37
defibrillator being placed in use;38
(3) Ensure that the automated external defibrillator is maintained and tested according39
to the manufacturer's operational guidelines;40
(4) Ensure that there is involvement of a licensed physician or other person authorized
41
by the Georgia Composite Medical Board in the site's automated external defibrillator42
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program to ensure compliance with requirements for training, notification, and43
maintenance;44
(5)(4) Establish a written emergency action plan that adheres to nationally recognized45
standards and that establishes specific steps to take during a cardiac emergency in a46
school setting. Such plan shall be designed to provide for an effective system for47
communication between members of the internal response team and other school48
officials, ensuring that the internal response team or other designated personnel activate49
the emergency medical services system as soon as reasonably possible after any person50
renders emergency care or treatment to a person in cardiac arrest by using an automated51
external defibrillator and report any clinical use of the automated external defibrillator52
to the licensed physician or other person authorized by the Georgia Composite Medical53
Board who is supervising the program, and ensuring that emergency medical services54
personnel are led directly to the exact location of the person in cardiac arrest;55
(6)(5) Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year and each school year thereafter, conduct56
a minimum of two emergency action plan practice drills per school year, with at least one57
per semester. One such practice drill may be a tabletop drill to walk through a58
hypothetical scenario and the courses of action a school will need to take before, during,59
and after a cardiac emergency. The emergency action plan practice drills shall include60
various locations on school grounds and responses to different hypothetical situations;61
(7)(6) Establish a designated internal response team composed of:62
(A) At least five school staff members;63
(B) One or more designated team leads trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and64
automated external defibrillator use and responsible for oversight of an emergency65
response;66
(C) One or more designated cardiopulmonary resuscitation leads trained in67
cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use;68
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(D) One or more designated automated external defibrillator leads, responsible for
69
knowing the location of automated external defibrillators, retrieving automated external70
defibrillators, and maintenance of automated external defibrillators; and71
(E) One or more designated communication leads responsible for activating the72
emergency medical services system, facilitating directions to the person in cardiac73
arrest for emergency medical services personnel upon arrival at the school, and74
coordinating communications with the designated team lead or leads; and75
(8)
(7) Apprise all school personnel of the location of automated external defibrillators76
and the members of the internal response team.77
(d) Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the Department of Education shall78
provide funds to local school systems to assist in the purchase of automated external79
defibrillators pursuant to this Code section.80
(e) The department and local school systems shall use diligent efforts to identify private81
sources of funding or donation of funding and equipment to meet the requirements of this82
Code section."83
SECTION 2.84
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.85
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