6 | | - | elementary and secondary education, so as to provide that local boards of education shall be2 |
---|
7 | | - | authorized to provide instruction in hunting safety in grades six through 12; to provide for3 |
---|
8 | | - | the adoption of content standards by the State Board of Education; to provide that local4 |
---|
9 | | - | boards of education may establish a curriculum in hunting safety; to provide for instructor5 |
---|
10 | | - | requirements; to provide for an outdoor learning spaces pilot program; to provide for a pilot6 |
---|
11 | | - | program evaluation and report; to remove the requirement of having a licensed physician in7 |
---|
12 | | - | automated external defibrillator programs; to increase from three to five the number of8 |
---|
13 | | - | accumulated sick leave days teachers and other school personnel may take each school year9 |
---|
14 | | - | for personal or professional reasons; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws;10 |
---|
15 | | - | and for other purposes.11 |
---|
16 | | - | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:12 |
---|
17 | | - | SECTION 1.13 |
---|
18 | | - | Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and14 |
---|
19 | | - | secondary education, is amended in Part 14 of Article 6, relating to other educational15 |
---|
20 | | - | - 1 - LC 61 0264S |
---|
21 | | - | programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," by revising Code Section 20-2-308,16 |
---|
22 | | - | which is reserved, as follows:17 |
---|
23 | | - | "20-2-308.18 |
---|
24 | | - | (a) Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, each local board of education shall be19 |
---|
25 | | - | authorized to provide instruction in hunting safety in grades six through 12, which20 |
---|
26 | | - | instruction may be incorporated into an existing course of study.21 |
---|
27 | | - | (b) No later than April 1, 2026, the State Board of Education shall adopt content standards22 |
---|
28 | | - | for such instruction in hunting safety.23 |
---|
29 | | - | (c) Each local board of education shall be authorized to establish a curriculum for24 |
---|
30 | | - | instruction in hunting safety, which curriculum shall be based on the hunter education25 |
---|
31 | | - | courses offered by the Department of Natural Resources.26 |
---|
32 | | - | (d) Instruction in hunting safety offered pursuant to this Code section shall be taught by27 |
---|
33 | | - | an individual who is certified as a hunter education instructor by the Department of Natural28 |
---|
34 | | - | Resources. Reserved."29 |
---|
35 | | - | SECTION 2.30 |
---|
36 | | - | Said chapter is further amended in Article 11, relating to public school property and facilities,31 |
---|
37 | | - | by adding a new part to read as follows:32 |
---|
38 | | - | "Part 433 |
---|
39 | | - | 20-2-590.34 |
---|
40 | | - | (a) The Department of Education is authorized to establish a pilot program, beginning in35 |
---|
41 | | - | the 2025-2026 school year, to provide for the development and study of outdoor learning36 |
---|
42 | | - | spaces on elementary and secondary school property. The purpose of the pilot program37 |
---|
43 | | - | shall be to determine whether and how to implement best practices and design standards38 |
---|
44 | | - | for outdoor learning spaces.39 |
---|
45 | | - | - 2 - LC 61 0264S |
---|
46 | | - | (b) The Department of Education is authorized to select elementary or secondary schools40 |
---|
47 | | - | with sufficient existing or potential outdoor learning spaces for participation in the pilot41 |
---|
48 | | - | program as pilot schools. Private, nonprofit, and local school system funding may be42 |
---|
49 | | - | utilized by such pilot schools for community engagement, school grounds design support,43 |
---|
50 | | - | and capital construction costs. The local board of education for each pilot school shall44 |
---|
51 | | - | agree to implement a program to incorporate outdoor learning spaces into the existing45 |
---|
52 | | - | curriculum and to continue to provide such program for a period no shorter than three46 |
---|
53 | | - | years.47 |
---|
54 | | - | (c) The Department of Education shall provide for an evaluation regarding the success and48 |
---|
55 | | - | impact of the pilot program upon completion of the third year of the pilot program and49 |
---|
56 | | - | shall report the results of such evaluation to the House Committee on Education and the50 |
---|
57 | | - | Senate Education and Youth Committee."51 |
---|
58 | | - | SECTION 3.52 |
---|
59 | | - | Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-775, relating to automated53 |
---|
60 | | - | external defibrillators required in high schools, requirements, and funding, as follows:54 |
---|
61 | | - | "20-2-775.55 |
---|
62 | | - | (a) As used in this Code section, the term:56 |
---|
63 | | - | (1) 'Automated external defibrillator' means a defibrillator which:57 |
---|
64 | | - | (A) Is capable of cardiac rhythm analysis;58 |
---|
65 | | - | (B) Will charge and be capable of being activated to deliver a countershock after59 |
---|
66 | | - | electrically detecting the presence of certain cardiac dysrhythmias; and60 |
---|
67 | | - | (C) Is capable of continuously recording cardiac dysrhythmia at the scene with a61 |
---|
68 | | - | mechanism for transfer and storage or for printing for review subsequent to use.62 |
---|
69 | | - | (2) 'Emergency action plan' means the plan established pursuant to paragraph (5) of63 |
---|
70 | | - | subsection (c) of this Code section to provide for an emergency response to a person in64 |
---|
71 | | - | cardiac arrest.65 |
---|
72 | | - | - 3 - LC 61 0264S |
---|
73 | | - | (3) 'Internal response team' means the team of school personnel established pursuant to66 |
---|
74 | | - | paragraph (7) (6) of subsection (c) of this Code section responsible for oversight of an67 |
---|
75 | | - | emergency response to a person in cardiac arrest and implementation of the emergency68 |
---|
76 | | - | action plan.69 |
---|
77 | | - | (4) 'School' means a public school in this state which provides K-12 education.70 |
---|
78 | | - | (b) No later than July 1, 2025, each school in this state shall have at least one functional71 |
---|
79 | | - | automated external defibrillator on site at such school at all times and easily accessible72 |
---|
80 | | - | during all school hours and during any school related function, including athletic practices,73 |
---|
81 | | - | athletic competitions, and other occasions where students and others will be present, for74 |
---|
82 | | - | use during emergencies.75 |
---|
83 | | - | (c) Each school shall:76 |
---|
84 | | - | (1) Ensure that each member of the internal response team and any other expected users77 |
---|
85 | | - | of the automated external defibrillator receive American Heart Association or American78 |
---|
86 | | - | Red Cross training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator79 |
---|
87 | | - | use or complete an equivalent nationally recognized course;80 |
---|
88 | | - | (2) Notify the appropriate emergency medical services system of the existence and81 |
---|
89 | | - | location of each automated external defibrillator prior to said automated external82 |
---|
90 | | - | defibrillator being placed in use;83 |
---|
91 | | - | (3) Ensure that the automated external defibrillator is maintained and tested according84 |
---|
92 | | - | to the manufacturer's operational guidelines;85 |
---|
93 | | - | (4) Ensure that there is involvement of a licensed physician or other person authorized86 |
---|
94 | | - | by the Georgia Composite Medical Board in the site's automated external defibrillator87 |
---|
95 | | - | program to ensure compliance with requirements for training, notification, and88 |
---|
96 | | - | maintenance;89 |
---|
97 | | - | (5)(4) Establish a written emergency action plan that adheres to nationally recognized90 |
---|
98 | | - | standards and that establishes specific steps to take during a cardiac emergency in a91 |
---|
99 | | - | school setting. Such plan shall be designed to provide for an effective system for92 |
---|
100 | | - | - 4 - LC 61 0264S |
---|
101 | | - | communication between members of the internal response team and other school93 |
---|
102 | | - | officials, ensuring that the internal response team or other designated personnel activate94 |
---|
103 | | - | the emergency medical services system as soon as reasonably possible after any person95 |
---|
104 | | - | renders emergency care or treatment to a person in cardiac arrest by using an automated96 |
---|
105 | | - | external defibrillator and report any clinical use of the automated external defibrillator97 |
---|
106 | | - | to the licensed physician or other person authorized by the Georgia Composite Medical98 |
---|
107 | | - | Board who is supervising the program, and ensuring that emergency medical services99 |
---|
108 | | - | personnel are led directly to the exact location of the person in cardiac arrest;100 |
---|
109 | | - | (6)(5) Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year and each school year thereafter, conduct101 |
---|
110 | | - | a minimum of two emergency action plan practice drills per school year, with at least one102 |
---|
111 | | - | per semester. One such practice drill may be a tabletop drill to walk through a103 |
---|
112 | | - | hypothetical scenario and the courses of action a school will need to take before, during,104 |
---|
113 | | - | and after a cardiac emergency. The emergency action plan practice drills shall include105 |
---|
114 | | - | various locations on school grounds and responses to different hypothetical situations;106 |
---|
115 | | - | (7)(6) Establish a designated internal response team composed of:107 |
---|
116 | | - | (A) At least five school staff members;108 |
---|
117 | | - | (B) One or more designated team leads trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and109 |
---|
118 | | - | automated external defibrillator use and responsible for oversight of an emergency110 |
---|
119 | | - | response;111 |
---|
120 | | - | (C) One or more designated cardiopulmonary resuscitation leads trained in112 |
---|
121 | | - | cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use;113 |
---|
122 | | - | (D) One or more designated automated external defibrillator leads, responsible for114 |
---|
123 | | - | knowing the location of automated external defibrillators, retrieving automated external115 |
---|
124 | | - | defibrillators, and maintenance of automated external defibrillators; and116 |
---|
125 | | - | (E) One or more designated communication leads responsible for activating the117 |
---|
126 | | - | emergency medical services system, facilitating directions to the person in cardiac118 |
---|
127 | | - | - 5 - LC 61 0264S |
---|
128 | | - | arrest for emergency medical services personnel upon arrival at the school, and119 |
---|
129 | | - | coordinating communications with the designated team lead or leads; and120 |
---|
130 | | - | (8)(7) Apprise all school personnel of the location of automated external defibrillators121 |
---|
131 | | - | and the members of the internal response team.122 |
---|
132 | | - | (d) Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the Department of Education shall123 |
---|
133 | | - | provide funds to local school systems to assist in the purchase of automated external124 |
---|
134 | | - | defibrillators pursuant to this Code section.125 |
---|
135 | | - | (e) The department and local school systems shall use diligent efforts to identify private126 |
---|
136 | | - | sources of funding or donation of funding and equipment to meet the requirements of this127 |
---|
137 | | - | Code section."128 |
---|
138 | | - | SECTION 4.129 |
---|
139 | | - | Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-851, relating to use of130 |
---|
140 | | - | accumulated sick leave for personal or professional reasons, as follows:131 |
---|
141 | | - | "20-2-851.132 |
---|
142 | | - | During any school year, personnel may utilize up to a maximum of three five days of any133 |
---|
143 | | - | accumulated sick leave for the purpose of absenting themselves from their duties for134 |
---|
144 | | - | personal or professional reasons if prior approval of their absence is given by the local135 |
---|
145 | | - | school superintendent or his or her authorized representative; provided, however, that the136 |
---|
146 | | - | absence is not in conflict with a local board of education policy concerning school days on137 |
---|
147 | | - | which the presence of the personnel requesting absence is essential for effective school138 |
---|
148 | | - | operation. No grant of approval for an absence permitted under this Code section shall be139 |
---|
149 | | - | conditioned upon disclosure of the specific purpose for which such absence is sought, nor140 |
---|
150 | | - | shall any such grant of approval be withheld or denied because of the failure or refusal of141 |
---|
151 | | - | personnel to disclose the specific purpose for which such an absence is sought; provided,142 |
---|
152 | | - | however, that personnel may be requested to state whether the absence is sought under the143 |
---|
153 | | - | category of 'personal' or 'professional' absence."144 |
---|
154 | | - | - 6 - LC 61 0264S |
---|
155 | | - | SECTION 5.145 |
---|
156 | | - | All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.146 |
---|
157 | | - | - 7 - |
---|
| 6 | + | elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for an outdoor learning spaces pilot2 |
---|
| 7 | + | program; to provide for a pilot program evaluation and report; to remove the requirement of3 |
---|
| 8 | + | having a licensed physician in automated external defibrillator programs; to increase from4 |
---|
| 9 | + | three to five the number of accumulated sick leave days teachers and other school personnel5 |
---|
| 10 | + | may take each school year for personal or professional reasons; to provide for related6 |
---|
| 11 | + | matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 |
---|
| 12 | + | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 |
---|
| 13 | + | SECTION 1.9 |
---|
| 14 | + | Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and10 |
---|
| 15 | + | secondary education, is amended in Article 11, relating to public school property and11 |
---|
| 16 | + | facilities, by adding a new part to read as follows:12 |
---|
| 17 | + | S. B. 148 (SUB) |
---|
| 18 | + | - 1 - 25 LC 33 9823S |
---|
| 19 | + | "Part 413 |
---|
| 20 | + | 20-2-590.14 |
---|
| 21 | + | (a) The Department of Education is authorized to establish a pilot program, beginning in15 |
---|
| 22 | + | the 2025-2026 school year, to provide for the development and study of outdoor learning16 |
---|
| 23 | + | spaces on elementary and secondary school property. The purpose of the pilot program17 |
---|
| 24 | + | shall be to determine whether and how to implement best practices and design standards18 |
---|
| 25 | + | for outdoor learning spaces.19 |
---|
| 26 | + | (b) The Department of Education is authorized to select elementary or secondary schools20 |
---|
| 27 | + | with sufficient existing or potential outdoor learning spaces for participation in the pilot21 |
---|
| 28 | + | program as pilot schools. Private, nonprofit, and local school system funding may be22 |
---|
| 29 | + | utilized by such pilot schools for community engagement, school grounds design support,23 |
---|
| 30 | + | and capital construction costs. The local board of education for each pilot school shall24 |
---|
| 31 | + | agree to implement a program to incorporate outdoor learning spaces into the existing25 |
---|
| 32 | + | curriculum and to continue to provide such program for a period no shorter than three26 |
---|
| 33 | + | years.27 |
---|
| 34 | + | (c) The Department of Education shall provide for an evaluation regarding the success and28 |
---|
| 35 | + | impact of the pilot program upon completion of the third year of the pilot program and29 |
---|
| 36 | + | shall report the results of such evaluation to the House Committee on Education and the30 |
---|
| 37 | + | Senate Education and Youth Committee."31 |
---|
| 38 | + | SECTION 2.32 |
---|
| 39 | + | Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-775, relating to automated33 |
---|
| 40 | + | external defibrillators required in high schools, requirements, and funding, as follows:34 |
---|
| 41 | + | "20-2-775.35 |
---|
| 42 | + | (a) As used in this Code section, the term:36 |
---|
| 43 | + | (1) 'Automated external defibrillator' means a defibrillator which:37 |
---|
| 44 | + | S. B. 148 (SUB) |
---|
| 45 | + | - 2 - 25 LC 33 9823S |
---|
| 46 | + | (A) Is capable of cardiac rhythm analysis;38 |
---|
| 47 | + | (B) Will charge and be capable of being activated to deliver a countershock after39 |
---|
| 48 | + | electrically detecting the presence of certain cardiac dysrhythmias; and40 |
---|
| 49 | + | (C) Is capable of continuously recording cardiac dysrhythmia at the scene with a41 |
---|
| 50 | + | mechanism for transfer and storage or for printing for review subsequent to use.42 |
---|
| 51 | + | (2) 'Emergency action plan' means the plan established pursuant to paragraph (5) of43 |
---|
| 52 | + | subsection (c) of this Code section to provide for an emergency response to a person in44 |
---|
| 53 | + | cardiac arrest.45 |
---|
| 54 | + | (3) 'Internal response team' means the team of school personnel established pursuant to46 |
---|
| 55 | + | paragraph (7)(6) of subsection (c) of this Code section responsible for oversight of an47 |
---|
| 56 | + | emergency response to a person in cardiac arrest and implementation of the emergency48 |
---|
| 57 | + | action plan.49 |
---|
| 58 | + | (4) 'School' means a public school in this state which provides K-12 education.50 |
---|
| 59 | + | (b) No later than July 1, 2025, each school in this state shall have at least one functional51 |
---|
| 60 | + | automated external defibrillator on site at such school at all times and easily accessible52 |
---|
| 61 | + | during all school hours and during any school related function, including athletic practices,53 |
---|
| 62 | + | athletic competitions, and other occasions where students and others will be present, for54 |
---|
| 63 | + | use during emergencies.55 |
---|
| 64 | + | (c) Each school shall:56 |
---|
| 65 | + | (1) Ensure that each member of the internal response team and any other expected users57 |
---|
| 66 | + | of the automated external defibrillator receive American Heart Association or American58 |
---|
| 67 | + | Red Cross training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator59 |
---|
| 68 | + | use or complete an equivalent nationally recognized course;60 |
---|
| 69 | + | (2) Notify the appropriate emergency medical services system of the existence and61 |
---|
| 70 | + | location of each automated external defibrillator prior to said automated external62 |
---|
| 71 | + | defibrillator being placed in use;63 |
---|
| 72 | + | S. B. 148 (SUB) |
---|
| 73 | + | - 3 - 25 LC 33 9823S |
---|
| 74 | + | (3) Ensure that the automated external defibrillator is maintained and tested according64 |
---|
| 75 | + | to the manufacturer's operational guidelines;65 |
---|
| 76 | + | (4) Ensure that there is involvement of a licensed physician or other person authorized66 |
---|
| 77 | + | by the Georgia Composite Medical Board in the site's automated external defibrillator67 |
---|
| 78 | + | program to ensure compliance with requirements for training, notification, and68 |
---|
| 79 | + | maintenance;69 |
---|
| 80 | + | (5)(4) Establish a written emergency action plan that adheres to nationally recognized70 |
---|
| 81 | + | standards and that establishes specific steps to take during a cardiac emergency in a71 |
---|
| 82 | + | school setting. Such plan shall be designed to provide for an effective system for72 |
---|
| 83 | + | communication between members of the internal response team and other school73 |
---|
| 84 | + | officials, ensuring that the internal response team or other designated personnel activate74 |
---|
| 85 | + | the emergency medical services system as soon as reasonably possible after any person75 |
---|
| 86 | + | renders emergency care or treatment to a person in cardiac arrest by using an automated76 |
---|
| 87 | + | external defibrillator and report any clinical use of the automated external defibrillator77 |
---|
| 88 | + | to the licensed physician or other person authorized by the Georgia Composite Medical78 |
---|
| 89 | + | Board who is supervising the program, and ensuring that emergency medical services79 |
---|
| 90 | + | personnel are led directly to the exact location of the person in cardiac arrest;80 |
---|
| 91 | + | (6)(5) Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year and each school year thereafter, conduct81 |
---|
| 92 | + | a minimum of two emergency action plan practice drills per school year, with at least one82 |
---|
| 93 | + | per semester. One such practice drill may be a tabletop drill to walk through a83 |
---|
| 94 | + | hypothetical scenario and the courses of action a school will need to take before, during,84 |
---|
| 95 | + | and after a cardiac emergency. The emergency action plan practice drills shall include85 |
---|
| 96 | + | various locations on school grounds and responses to different hypothetical situations;86 |
---|
| 97 | + | (7)(6) Establish a designated internal response team composed of:87 |
---|
| 98 | + | (A) At least five school staff members;88 |
---|
| 99 | + | S. B. 148 (SUB) |
---|
| 100 | + | - 4 - 25 LC 33 9823S |
---|
| 101 | + | (B) One or more designated team leads trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and89 |
---|
| 102 | + | automated external defibrillator use and responsible for oversight of an emergency90 |
---|
| 103 | + | response;91 |
---|
| 104 | + | (C) One or more designated cardiopulmonary resuscitation leads trained in92 |
---|
| 105 | + | cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use;93 |
---|
| 106 | + | (D) One or more designated automated external defibrillator leads, responsible for94 |
---|
| 107 | + | knowing the location of automated external defibrillators, retrieving automated external95 |
---|
| 108 | + | defibrillators, and maintenance of automated external defibrillators; and96 |
---|
| 109 | + | (E) One or more designated communication leads responsible for activating the97 |
---|
| 110 | + | emergency medical services system, facilitating directions to the person in cardiac98 |
---|
| 111 | + | arrest for emergency medical services personnel upon arrival at the school, and99 |
---|
| 112 | + | coordinating communications with the designated team lead or leads; and100 |
---|
| 113 | + | (8)(7) Apprise all school personnel of the location of automated external defibrillators101 |
---|
| 114 | + | and the members of the internal response team.102 |
---|
| 115 | + | (d) Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the Department of Education shall103 |
---|
| 116 | + | provide funds to local school systems to assist in the purchase of automated external104 |
---|
| 117 | + | defibrillators pursuant to this Code section.105 |
---|
| 118 | + | (e) The department and local school systems shall use diligent efforts to identify private106 |
---|
| 119 | + | sources of funding or donation of funding and equipment to meet the requirements of this107 |
---|
| 120 | + | Code section."108 |
---|
| 121 | + | SECTION 3.109 |
---|
| 122 | + | Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-851, relating to use of110 |
---|
| 123 | + | accumulated sick leave for personal or professional reasons, as follows:111 |
---|
| 124 | + | "20-2-851.112 |
---|
| 125 | + | During any school year, personnel may utilize up to a maximum of three five days of any113 |
---|
| 126 | + | accumulated sick leave for the purpose of absenting themselves from their duties for114 |
---|
| 127 | + | S. B. 148 (SUB) |
---|
| 128 | + | - 5 - 25 LC 33 9823S |
---|
| 129 | + | personal or professional reasons if prior approval of their absence is given by the local115 |
---|
| 130 | + | school superintendent or his or her authorized representative; provided, however, that the116 |
---|
| 131 | + | absence is not in conflict with a local board of education policy concerning school days on117 |
---|
| 132 | + | which the presence of the personnel requesting absence is essential for effective school118 |
---|
| 133 | + | operation. No grant of approval for an absence permitted under this Code section shall be119 |
---|
| 134 | + | conditioned upon disclosure of the specific purpose for which such absence is sought, nor120 |
---|
| 135 | + | shall any such grant of approval be withheld or denied because of the failure or refusal of121 |
---|
| 136 | + | personnel to disclose the specific purpose for which such an absence is sought; provided,122 |
---|
| 137 | + | however, that personnel may be requested to state whether the absence is sought under the123 |
---|
| 138 | + | category of 'personal' or 'professional' absence."124 |
---|
| 139 | + | SECTION 4.125 |
---|
| 140 | + | All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.126 |
---|
| 141 | + | S. B. 148 (SUB) |
---|
| 142 | + | - 6 - |
---|