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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1086 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 464
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Carol A. Doherty and Patricia A. Haddad
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act providing hands-only CPR training and the use of defibrillators.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carol A. Doherty3rd Bristol1/18/2023Patricia A. Haddad5th Bristol1/18/2023James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol1/29/2023Ryan M. Hamilton15th Essex2/2/2023Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/2/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden2/2/2023Jon Santiago9th Suffolk2/6/2023Brian W. Murray10th Worcester2/6/2023Christopher Hendricks11th Bristol2/9/2023Steven S. Howitt4th Bristol2/9/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/9/2023Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex2/9/2023Shirley B. Arriaga8th Hampden2/27/2023Sally P. Kerans13th Essex2/27/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1086 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 464
By Representatives Doherty of Taunton and Haddad of Somerset, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 464) of Carol A. Doherty, Patricia A. Haddad and others for legislation to
require schools to provide training on hands-only CPR and the use of defibrillators. Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act providing hands-only CPR training and the use of defibrillators.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
2section 2C, the following section:-
3 Section 2D. Each school district in the commonwealth shall provide instruction in hands-
4only cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator as part of
5the existing physical education or health education curriculum in grades 9 through 12. The
6school district may select a no-cost, non-certification instructional program to meet this
7requirement. The instructional program provided shall be modeled from an instructional
8program established by a nationally recognized association with expertise in instruction in
9cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator and include a
10hands-on learning component for each participating student. Each public high school student
11shall be required to participate in the instructional program as a requirement for high school
12graduation; provided, however, that no student shall be required to take part in the instructional 2 of 2
13program if (i) a licensed physician certifies in writing that such participation would be injurious
14to the student; or (ii) a parent or guardian for the student submits a written objection to the
15student’s participation in the instructional program.
16 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on September 1, 2025.