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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 82 FILED ON: 1/3/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2556
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marcus S. Vaughn
_________________
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 relative to AEDs for athletic fields.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Marcus S. Vaughn9th Norfolk1/3/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 82 FILED ON: 1/3/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2556
By Representative Vaughn of Wrentham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2556) of
Marcus S. Vaughn that cities and towns and schools be required to provide and maintain
automated external defibrillators at athletic fields, parks and playgrounds. Public Health.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3924 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to AEDs for athletic fields.
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 45 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following
2section:-
3 Section 26. (a) Each municipality shall provide and maintain at least 1 automated external
4defibrillator, AED, at each athletic field, park and playground that is maintained by the
5municipality. The parks and recreation department of a municipality may, at its discretion,
6require additional AEDs be provided and maintained by the municipality at any athletic field,
7park or playground that is maintained by the municipality.
8 (b) Any municipality that is required to provide and maintain an AED pursuant to
9subsection (a) shall provide mandatory training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of 2 of 3
10AEDs to: all staff employed by its parks and recreation department; all sports coaches, umpires,
11referees and other sports officials who participate in athletic events held at athletic fields, parks
12or playgrounds maintained by the municipality; and any other group as determined by the parks
13and recreation department of the municipality.
14 (c) The parks and recreation department of each municipality subject to this section may
15contract on behalf of the municipality for the procurement of AEDs and the mandatory training
16on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of AEDs required by subsection (b).
17 SECTION 2. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section
1854C and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
19 Section 54C. (a) Each school district, vocational district, charter school, approved private
20day or residential school and collaborative school shall provide and maintain at least 1 automated
21external defibrillator, AED, on site at each school facility where instruction is provided. Each
22school shall have on staff a person who is an AED provider having current certification in a
23training course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and in the use of an AED in accordance with
24the standards established by the American Heart Association or the American National Red
25Cross.
26 (b) Each school district, vocational district, charter school, approved private day or
27residential school and collaborative school that maintains athletic fields for use in school-
28sponsored athletic events shall provide and maintain at least 1 AED in the area of the athletic
29fields. The school administration shall ensure that an AED provider is readily available at any
30school-sponsored athletic event. 3 of 3
31 (c) Any school system that is required to provide and maintain an AED pursuant to
32subsections (a) and (b) shall provide mandatory training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and
33the use of AEDs to all staff employed by the school system, including sports coaches.
34 (d) If a school system is unable to comply with the requirements of this section, the
35superintendent of the school district, the administration of a private day or residential school or
36the board of trustees of a charter school, shall request a hardship waiver from the department of
37elementary and secondary education. The department of elementary and secondary education, in
38consultation with the department of public health, shall make available to public schools a list of
39grants and other funding sources that a public school may access to facilitate the purchase of
40AEDs.
41 (e) Any school staff member who, in good faith, attempts to render emergency care,
42including cardiopulmonary resuscitation or defibrillation, and does so without compensation,
43shall not be liable
44 for acts or omissions, other than gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct,
45resulting from the attempt to render such emergency care.
46 (f) The department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with the
47department of public health, shall establish regulations and guidelines for the implementation,
48training, support and supervision of this section.