Oklahoma Senate Bill SB236

Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/7/23

Caption

Schools; directing establishment of certain grant program related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillators. Effective date. Emergency.

Impact

The implementation of SB236 represents a significant step towards improving health response mechanisms within schools, as it focuses on training school staff to perform CPR and use AEDs effectively. By allocating $500,000 for this grant program, the state acknowledges the importance of equipping schools with critical life-saving resources, thus potentially reducing response times during emergencies and increasing survival rates for affected individuals.

Summary

Senate Bill 236 requires the State Board of Education to create a grant program aimed at supporting public school districts and public charter schools in acquiring funding for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The bill outlines that grants can be utilized for purchasing AEDs, maintaining them, and providing training for school employees in their use, greatly enhancing the preparedness of schools in case of cardiac emergencies.

Contention

While the bill broadly aims to increase safety in schools, there may be points of contention regarding the appropriations and the reliance on state funding for such initiatives. Stakeholders might debate the adequacy of the proposed funding and whether it sufficiently meets the needs of all schools, especially those with limited budgets. Additionally, discussions could arise around the logistics of training and maintaining the AEDs, including who will oversee these programs at individual school sites.