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 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.