Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SB148 Compare Versions

OldNewDifferences
1-LC 61 0264S
2-The House Committee on Rules offers the following substitute to SB 148:
1+25 LC 33 9823S
2+The House Committee on Education offers the following substitute to SB 148:
33 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
44 AN ACT
55 To amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1
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 -