(Sponsorship Updated As Of: 2/10/2025)
SENATE, No. 908
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator KRISTIN M. CORRADO
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
Senator PARKER SPACE
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Schepisi, Singleton and Amato
SYNOPSIS
Requires portable anti-choking devices be placed in schools.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Education Committee with technical review.
S908 CORRADO, SPACE
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AN ACT concerning the use of portable anti-choking devices in 1
schools and supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New 2
Jersey Statutes. 3
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BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State 5
of New Jersey: 6
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1. Each board of education of a public school district and the 8
governing board or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school 9
in the State shall ensure that at least one portable anti-choking 10
device is made available in the cafeteria, the office of the school 11
nurse, and any other similar location. The devices shall be placed 12
in unlocked and easily accessible locations during the school day 13
and at any other time when a school-sponsored event is taking 14
place. The locations of each device shall have an appropriate 15
identifying sign. 16
As used in this act, “portable anti-choking device” means a 17
portable medical device that uses manually created suction to 18
remove blockage from the airway during a choking emergency and 19
has been registered as a Class II acute upper airway obstruction 20
device with the United States Food and Drug Administration. 21
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2. Each board of education and the governing board or chief 23
administrator of a nonpublic school shall develop policies for the 24
use of portable anti-choking devices by school nurses and school 25
employees. The policies shall include a requirement that all school 26
nurses and school employees receive training in airway 27
management and in the removal of any obstruction from the airway 28
using a portable anti-choking device. 29
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3. The Commissioner of Education shall ensure that annual 31
educational opportunities are made available for school nurses and 32
employees of both public and nonpublic schools regarding airway 33
management and the use of portable anti-choking devices. 34
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4. The Department of Education shall provide for the 36
reimbursement of the costs incurred by school districts and 37
nonpublic schools in implementing the provisions of this act. The 38
department shall establish procedures by which a school district or 39
nonpublic school may apply for reimbursement pursuant to this 40
section. The department is authorized to accept contributions of 41
funds from private or nonprofit entities in order to defray the 42
expenses of the State in reimbursing public and nonpublic schools 43
pursuant to this section. 44
S908 CORRADO, SPACE
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5. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after enactment, 1
but the Commissioner of Education may take such anticipatory 2
administrative action in advance as necessary for the timely 3
implementation of this act. 4