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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 542
BY REPRESENTATIVES WILLMOTT, BROADWATER, HENRY BURNS, CARTER,
EDWARDS, HENRY, HOLLIS, JEFFERSON, NANCY LANDRY, PRICE,
REYNOLDS, RICHARD, SHADOIN, THOMPSON, AND ALFRED WILLIAMS
CURRICULA: Requires instruction relative to CPR and automated external defibrillators
to be integrated into the curriculum of an existing required course of study in public
high schools
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 17:81(X) and 3996(B)(34), relative to instruction in public high schools2
regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillators; to3
require and provide guidelines for such instruction; to provide relative to rules and4
regulations; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 17:81(X) and 3996(B)(34) are hereby enacted to read as follows:7
§81. General powers of local public school boards8
* * *9
X.(1) The governing authority of each public school that enrolls students in10
grades nine through twelve shall provide instruction relative to cardiopulmonary11
resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator. Such instruction12
shall be integrated into the curriculum of an existing course, such as health13
education, physical education, or another course that is required for graduation and14
deemed appropriate by the school governing authority, and shall include the15
following:16
(a) An instructional program developed by the American Heart Association17
or the American Red Cross or an instructional program that is nationally recognized18
and based on the most current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular19
care guidelines for the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of20
an automated external defibrillator.21 HLS 14RS-1250 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 542
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(b) Training for students relative to the psychomotor skills necessary to1
perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. For the purposes of this Subparagraph,2
"psychomotor skills" means skills that students are required to perform as hands-on3
practice to support cognitive learning. Students receiving the instruction required4
by this Subsection in a virtual school shall not be required to perform hands-on5
practice.6
(2)(a) A classroom teacher shall not be required to be a certified trainer of7
cardiopulmonary resuscitation to facilitate, provide, or oversee the instruction.8
(b) The governing authority of each public school may consult and partner9
with the following individuals whom the governing authority may authorize to10
participate in providing the instruction:11
(i) Emergency medical technicians, paramedics, physicians, nurses,12
respiratory therapists, police officers, deputy sheriffs, nurse practitioners, athletic13
trainers, firefighters, and any persons included in the definition of "health care14
provider" provided in R.S. 40:1299.41, each of whom shall be certified in15
cardiopulmonary resuscitation and must be currently licensed, certified, or16
commissioned according to his respective occupation in order to participate in17
providing such instruction. If it is in accordance with the laws, rules, or regulations18
governing his profession, if applicable, an instructor may apply the hours spent19
performing this instruction toward fulfilling professional requirements relative to20
performing community service.21
(ii) Representatives of the American Heart Association or the American Red22
Cross or other similarly qualified individuals.23
(c) Instruction required pursuant to this Subsection shall not result in the24
certification of students in cardiopulmonary resuscitation or the use of an automated25
external defibrillator. If, separate and apart from the instruction required by this26
Subsection, a school governing authority provides a training program that is intended27
to result in such certification, the instructor shall be authorized to provide instruction28
for certification by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or a29 HLS 14RS-1250 ENGROSSED
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similar nationally recognized association. Prior to the certification of any student1
under the age of eighteen through such a training program, a school governing2
authority shall obtain parental consent.3
(d) The physical presence of an automated external defibrillator in the4
classroom is not required. The instruction need only provide general information on5
the use and importance of automated external defibrillators.6
(3) The governing authority of each public school shall adopt rules and7
regulations necessary for the implementation of this Subsection.8
(4) The governing authority of each public school shall comply with any9
surveys or reporting that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education or10
the state Department of Education requires in order to determine whether governing11
authorities are complying with the provisions of this Subsection.12
* * *13
§3996. Charter schools; exemptions; requirements14
* * *15
B. Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and16
except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a17
charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this18
Chapter and its approved charter and the school's officers and employees shall be19
exempt from all statutory mandates or other statutory requirements that are20
applicable to public schools and to public school officers and employees except for21
the following laws otherwise applicable to public schools with the same grades:22
* * *23
(34) Instruction relative to cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of24
automatic external defibrillators, R.S. 17:81(X).25
* * *26 HLS 14RS-1250 ENGROSSED
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Willmott HB No. 542
Abstract: Requires instruction relative to CPR and automated external defibrillators to be
integrated into the curriculum of an existing course of study that is required for high
school graduation.
Proposed law requires the governing authorities of public schools enrolling students in
grades nine through 12 to provide instruction relative to cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Requires the integration
of such instruction into the curriculum of an existing course, such as health education,
physical education, or another course that is required for graduation and deemed appropriate
by the school governing authority and requires the instruction to include the following:
(1)An instructional program developed by the American Heart Assoc. (AHA) or the
American Red Cross (ARC) or that is nationally recognized and based on the most
current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for CPR
and AED.
(2)Hands-on training for students relative to the psychomotor skills necessary to
perform CPR. Exempts students receiving such instruction at a virtual school from
hands-on training.
Authorizes public school governing authorities to partner with emergency medical
technicians, paramedics, physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, police officers, deputy
sheriffs, nurse practitioners, athletic trainers, firefighters, and anyone included in the present
law (R.S. 40:1299.41) definition of "health care provider", each of whom shall be certified
in CPR and currently licensed, certified, or commissioned according to his respective
occupation in order to participate in providing such instruction, as well as representatives
of the AHA or ARC or other similarly qualified individuals. Provides that an instructor may
apply the hours spent performing this instruction toward fulfilling professional requirements
relative to performing community service, if applicable.
Provides that a classroom teacher is not required to be a certified trainer of CPR to facilitate,
provide, or oversee this instruction.
Prohibits the instruction required by proposed law to result in the certification of students
in CPR or the use of an AED. Should a school governing authority provide, separate and
apart from the instruction required by proposed law, a training program intended to result
in such certification, requires that the instructor be authorized to provide instruction for
certification by the AHA, ARC, or a similar nationally recognized association. Further
requires a school governing authority to obtain parental consent prior to the certification of
any student under the age of 18 through such a training program.
Provides that the physical presence of an AED in the classroom is not required and that the
instruction need only provide general information on the use and importance of automated
external defibrillators.
Requires public school governing authorities to adopt rules and regulations necessary for
proposed law implementation and to comply with any surveys or reporting that the State Bd.
of Elementary and Secondary Education or the state Dept. of Education requires in order to
determine whether governing authorities are complying with proposed law. Proposed law HLS 14RS-1250 ENGROSSED
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is applicable to all public schools enrolling students in grades nine through 12, including
charter schools.
(Adds R.S. 17:81(X) and 3996(B)(34))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original
bill.
1. Specifies that the existing course into which instruction shall be integrated shall
be one that is required for graduation.
2. Exempts students receiving the instruction in a virtual school from performing
hands-on training.
3. Relative to those with whom school governing authorities may partner to provide
instruction, provides as follows:
(a)Adds athletic trainers, nurse practitioners, and any person included in the
present law definition of "health care provider".
(b)Requires instructors to be certified in CPR.
(c) Adds that they may apply instruction to professional community service
requirements, if applicable.
4. Instead of requiring the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education
(BESE) to establish a procedure to monitor the compliance of public school
governing authorities with proposed law, requires such governing authorities to
comply with any surveys or reporting that BESE or the state Dept. of Education
requires in order to determine whether they are complying with proposed law.