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Indiana Senate Bill SB0500

Indiana 2025 Regular Session

Indiana Senate Bill SB0500 Compare Versions

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22 Introduced Version
33 SENATE BILL No. 500
44 _____
55 DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
66 Citations Affected: IC 20-34-8.
77 Synopsis: Cardiac arrest action plans. Requires a school corporation,
88 charter school, and nonpublic school with at least one employee to
99 develop a venue specific emergency action plan for sudden cardiac
1010 arrest, in consultation with an emergency medical services provider, for
1111 athletic activities or other extracurricular activities. (Current law
1212 provides that a school corporation, charter school, or state accredited
1313 nonpublic school may develop a venue specific emergency action
1414 plan.) Requires the department of education (department) to
1515 disseminate guidelines, information sheets, and forms to each
1616 nonpublic school with at least one employee, charter school, and school
1717 corporation for distribution to schools to inform and educate coaches,
1818 marching band leaders, officials designated by the applicable student's
1919 school entity, applicable students, and parents of applicable students
2020 of the nature and risk of sudden cardiac arrest to applicable students.
2121 (Current law requires the department to disseminate guidelines,
2222 information sheets, and forms to each state accredited nonpublic
2323 school, charter school, and each school corporation for distribution to
2424 schools to inform and educate coaches, marching band leaders,
2525 officials designated by the applicable student's school entity, applicable
2626 students, and parents of applicable students of the nature and risk of
2727 sudden cardiac arrest to applicable students.) Moves existing law that
2828 authorizes a school corporation, a charter school, a state accredited
2929 nonpublic school, or an accredited nonpublic school to apply for an
3030 Indiana secured school matching grant to purchase an automated
3131 external defibrillator to a new section. Makes various stylistic and
3232 conforming amendments. Repeals a definition of "school".
3333 Effective: July 1, 2025.
3434 Ford J.D.
3535 January 14, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
3636 Development.
3737 2025 IN 500—LS 6496/DI 116 Introduced
3838 First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
3939 PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
4040 Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
4141 additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
4242 Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
4343 provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
4444 word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
4545 a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
4646 Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
4747 between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
4848 SENATE BILL No. 500
4949 A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
5050 education.
5151 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
5252 1 SECTION 1. IC 20-34-8-3 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE JULY 1,
5353 2 2025]. Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "school" refers to a public school
5454 3 and a state accredited nonpublic school.
5555 4 SECTION 2. IC 20-34-8-3.5, AS ADDED BY P.L.187-2023,
5656 5 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
5757 6 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 3.5. As used in this chapter, "venue specific
5858 7 emergency action plan for sudden cardiac arrest" means a plan
5959 8 developed by a school corporation, charter school, or state accredited
6060 9 nonpublic school that has at least one (1) employee that:
6161 10 (1) includes detailed instructions regarding how to respond to
6262 11 sudden cardiac arrest; and
6363 12 (2) indicates the location of the nearest automated external
6464 13 defibrillator (AED) at the venue, if applicable.
6565 14 SECTION 3. IC 20-34-8-3.7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
6666 15 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
6767 16 1, 2025]: Sec. 3.7. A school corporation, charter school, and
6868 17 nonpublic school with at least one (1) employee shall do the
6969 2025 IN 500—LS 6496/DI 116 2
7070 1 following:
7171 2 (1) Develop a venue specific emergency action plan for sudden
7272 3 cardiac arrest, in consultation with an emergency medical
7373 4 services provider, for athletic activities that:
7474 5 (A) establishes a goal of responding within three (3)
7575 6 minutes to a sudden cardiac arrest occurring within the
7676 7 venue; and
7777 8 (B) requires the performance of periodic drills at times and
7878 9 locations determined by the governing body.
7979 10 (2) Distribute the plan described in subdivision (1) to the
8080 11 governing body, or its equivalent.
8181 12 (3) Share the plan described in subdivision (1) with a:
8282 13 (A) head coach or assistant coach who coaches an athletic
8383 14 activity;
8484 15 (B) marching band leader;
8585 16 (C) drama or musical leader;
8686 17 (D) leader of an extracurricular activity in which students
8787 18 have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest as
8888 19 determined by the department in consultation with an
8989 20 organization that specializes in the prevention of sudden
9090 21 cardiac arrest; or
9191 22 (E) school resource officer.
9292 23 (4) Post the plan described in subdivision (1) in a conspicuous
9393 24 place so that it is visible by any participants of an athletic
9494 25 activity at the venue.
9595 26 (5) Before the beginning of the season of each event in which
9696 27 students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest,
9797 28 share the plan described in subdivision (1) with all applicable
9898 29 students.
9999 30 SECTION 4. IC 20-34-8-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.56-2021,
100100 31 SECTION 5, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
101101 32 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. (a) The department shall disseminate
102102 33 guidelines, information sheets, and forms to each state accredited
103103 34 nonpublic school with at least one (1) employee, charter school, and
104104 35 each school corporation for distribution to schools to inform and
105105 36 educate coaches, marching band leaders, applicable students, and
106106 37 parents of applicable students of the nature and risk of sudden cardiac
107107 38 arrest to applicable students. The guidelines and information sheets
108108 39 must include the following information:
109109 40 (1) The nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest,
110110 41 including the risks associated with continuing to play or practice
111111 42 after experiencing one (1) or more symptoms of sudden cardiac
112112 2025 IN 500—LS 6496/DI 116 3
113113 1 arrest, including:
114114 2 (A) fainting;
115115 3 (B) difficulty breathing;
116116 4 (C) chest pains;
117117 5 (D) dizziness; and
118118 6 (E) abnormal racing heart rate.
119119 7 (2) Information about electrocardiogram testing, including the
120120 8 potential risks, benefits, and evidentiary basis behind
121121 9 electrocardiogram testing.
122122 10 (b) The department:
123123 11 (1) may consult with an association, medical professionals, and
124124 12 others with expertise in diagnosing and treating sudden cardiac
125125 13 arrest; and
126126 14 (2) may request the assistance of an association in disseminating
127127 15 the guidelines, information sheets, and forms required under
128128 16 subsection (a).
129129 17 (c) The department may disseminate the guidelines, information
130130 18 sheets, and forms required under this section in an electronic format
131131 19 and must be made available on the department's Internet web site.
132132 20 website.
133133 21 SECTION 5. IC 20-34-8-6, AS AMENDED BY P.L.56-2021,
134134 22 SECTION 6, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
135135 23 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 6. (a) This section applies to a:
136136 24 (1) school corporation;
137137 25 (2) charter school; and
138138 26 (3) state accredited nonpublic school.
139139 27 (b) Each year, before beginning practice for an athletic activity, an
140140 28 applicable student and the applicable student's parent:
141141 29 (1) must be given the information sheet and form described in
142142 30 section 5 of this chapter; and
143143 31 (2) shall sign and return the form acknowledging the receipt and
144144 32 review of the information sheet to the applicable student's coach,
145145 33 marching band leader, or other official designated by the
146146 34 applicable student's school entity.
147147 35 The coach, marching band leader, or other official designated by the
148148 36 applicable student's school entity shall maintain a file of the completed
149149 37 forms.
150150 38 SECTION 6. IC 20-34-8-7, AS AMENDED BY P.L.56-2021,
151151 39 SECTION 7, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
152152 40 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 7. (a) This section applies to a:
153153 41 (1) school corporation;
154154 42 (2) charter school; and
155155 2025 IN 500—LS 6496/DI 116 4
156156 1 (3) state accredited nonpublic school.
157157 2 (b) If an applicable student is suspected, as determined by a game
158158 3 official, coach from the applicable student's team, licensed athletic
159159 4 trainer, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse,
160160 5 licensed physician, marching band leader, or other official designated
161161 6 by the applicable student's school entity, of experiencing a symptom of
162162 7 sudden cardiac arrest in a practice for an athletic activity or in an
163163 8 athletic activity:
164164 9 (1) the applicable student shall be removed from practice or play
165165 10 at the time that the symptom is identified; and
166166 11 (2) the parent of the applicable student shall be notified of the
167167 12 applicable student's symptoms.
168168 13 SECTION 7. IC 20-34-8-9, AS AMENDED BY P.L.9-2024,
169169 14 SECTION 396, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS
170170 15 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 9. (a) This section applies to:
171171 16 (1) a:
172172 17 (A) school corporation;
173173 18 (B) charter school; and
174174 19 (C) state accredited nonpublic school; and
175175 20 (2) a:
176176 21 (A) (1) a head coach or assistant coach who coaches an
177177 22 athletic activity;
178178 23 (B) (2) a marching band leader;
179179 24 (C) (3) a drama or musical leader; or
180180 25 (D) (4) a leader of an extracurricular activity in which students
181181 26 have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest activity as
182182 27 determined by the department in consultation with an
183183 28 organization that specializes in the prevention of sudden
184184 29 cardiac arrest.
185185 30 (b) An individual described in subsection (a) (a)(2) shall complete
186186 31 the sudden cardiac arrest training course offered by a provider
187187 32 approved by the department in a manner specified by the state board
188188 33 under IC 20-28-5.5-1 or IC 20-28-5.5-1.5. The sudden cardiac arrest
189189 34 training course described in this subsection must include training in the
190190 35 use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). An individual
191191 36 described in subsection (a) (a)(2) may not coach or lead the event in
192192 37 which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest until the
193193 38 individual completes the training course required under this subsection.
194194 39 The provider shall provide the school with a certificate of completion
195195 40 to the school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic
196196 41 school for each individual who completes a course under this
197197 42 subsection.
198198 2025 IN 500—LS 6496/DI 116 5
199199 1 (c) Each school corporation, charter school, or state accredited
200200 2 nonpublic school shall maintain all certificates of completion awarded
201201 3 under subsection (b) for each individual described in subsection (a).
202202 4 (a)(2).
203203 5 (d) An individual described in subsection (a) (a)(2) who complies
204204 6 with this section and provides coaching or leadership services in good
205205 7 faith is not personally liable for damages in a civil action as a result of
206206 8 a sudden cardiac arrest incurred by an applicable student participating
207207 9 in an event in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac
208208 10 arrest for which the head coach, assistant coach, marching band leader,
209209 11 drama or musical leader, or other applicable leader provided coaching
210210 12 or leadership services, except for an act or omission by the individual
211211 13 described in subsection (a) (a)(2) that constitutes gross negligence or
212212 14 willful or wanton misconduct.
213213 15 (e) An individual described in subsection (a) (a)(2) may ensure that
214214 16 an operational automated external defibrillator (AED) is present at each
215215 17 event in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest
216216 18 for which the individual described in subsection (a) (a)(2) is providing
217217 19 coaching or leadership.
218218 20 (f) An automated external defibrillator (AED) described in
219219 21 subsection (e) may be:
220220 22 (1) deployed in accordance with the venue specific emergency
221221 23 action plan for sudden cardiac arrest developed under subsection
222222 24 (i); section 3.7 of this chapter;
223223 25 (2) except as provided in subsection (g), located on the premises
224224 26 where the event in which students have an increased risk of
225225 27 sudden cardiac arrest occurs; and
226226 28 (3) present for the duration of the event in which students have an
227227 29 increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
228228 30 (g) One (1) automated external defibrillator (AED) may be shared
229229 31 by two (2) or more events in which students have an increased risk of
230230 32 sudden cardiac arrest if the following conditions are met:
231231 33 (1) The events in which students have an increased risk of sudden
232232 34 cardiac arrest occur at the same time.
233233 35 (2) The events in which students have an increased risk of sudden
234234 36 cardiac arrest occur in locations that are in close proximity to
235235 37 each other, as determined by the department.
236236 38 (3) The automated external defibrillator (AED) is placed in a
237237 39 designated location that is between the events in which students
238238 40 have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest and meets the
239239 41 requirement of subsection (f)(3).
240240 42 (4) Each individual described in subsection (a) (a)(2) who
241241 2025 IN 500—LS 6496/DI 116 6
242242 1 conducts an event in which students have an increased risk of
243243 2 sudden cardiac arrest described in this subsection is aware of the
244244 3 designated location of the automated external defibrillator (AED).
245245 4 (h) At each event in which students have an increased risk of sudden
246246 5 cardiac arrest, an individual described in subsection (a) (a)(2) may
247247 6 inform all individuals who are coaching or providing leadership at the
248248 7 event in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest
249249 8 of the location of the automated external defibrillator (AED).
250250 9 (i) A school corporation, charter school, and state accredited
251251 10 nonpublic school may do the following:
252252 11 (1) ensure that an automated external defibrillator (AED)
253253 12 described in subsection (e) is properly maintained.
254254 13 (2) Develop a venue specific emergency action plan for sudden
255255 14 cardiac arrest that:
256256 15 (A) establishes a goal of responding within three (3) minutes
257257 16 to a sudden cardiac arrest occurring within the venue; and
258258 17 (B) requires the performance of periodic drills at times and
259259 18 locations determined by the governing body.
260260 19 (3) Distribute the plan described in subdivision (2) to the school
261261 20 board.
262262 21 (4) Share the plan described in subdivision (2) with each
263263 22 individual described in subsection (a).
264264 23 (5) Post the plan described in subdivision (2) in a conspicuous
265265 24 place so that it is visible by any participants of an activity at the
266266 25 venue.
267267 26 (6) Before the beginning of the season of each event in which
268268 27 students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest, share the
269269 28 plan described in subdivision (2) with all applicable students.
270270 29 (j) A school corporation, a charter school, a state accredited
271271 30 nonpublic school (as defined in IC 20-18-2-18.7), or an accredited
272272 31 nonpublic school (as defined in IC 10-21-1-1) may apply for a grant
273273 32 under IC 10-21-1-2(a)(1)(C)(viii) to purchase an automated external
274274 33 defibrillator (AED) if the school corporation, charter school, state
275275 34 accredited nonpublic school or accredited nonpublic school develops
276276 35 a venue specific emergency action plan for sudden cardiac arrest.
277277 36 SECTION 8. IC 20-34-8-10 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
278278 37 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
279279 38 1, 2025]: Sec. 10. A school corporation, a charter school, a state
280280 39 accredited nonpublic school (as defined in IC 20-18-2-18.7), or an
281281 40 accredited nonpublic school (as defined in IC 10-21-1-1) may apply
282282 41 for a grant under IC 10-21-1-2(a)(1)(C)(viii) to purchase an
283283 42 automated external defibrillator (AED) if the school corporation,
284284 2025 IN 500—LS 6496/DI 116 7
285285 1 charter school, state accredited nonpublic school, or accredited
286286 2 nonpublic school develops a venue specific emergency action plan
287287 3 for sudden cardiac arrest.
288288 2025 IN 500—LS 6496/DI 116