2025 -- S 0391
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LC001405
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL TRAUMA KIT ACT
Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, DiPalma, Britto, Lawson, and Murray
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
Referred To: Senate Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by 1
adding thereto the following chapter: 2
CHAPTER 91.2 3
SCHOOL TRAUMA KIT ACT 4
16-91.2-1. Trauma kits in educational settings. 5
(a) Every public and private elementary and secondary school within the State of Rhode 6
Island shall provide and maintain clearly visible and easily accessible trauma kits as described in 7
subsection (b) of this section. The quantity and type of trauma kits shall be determined by the 8
commissioner of education, in consultation with the director of the department of health, after due 9
consideration of trauma-type first aid kits recommended by the Department of Homeland Security, 10
and shall be adequate to ensure ready and appropriate access for use during emergencies. 11
(b) Each trauma kit shall include at a minimum the following supplies: tourniquet; gloves 12
and marker; scissors; instructions; compression bandages; and bleeding control bandages and any 13
other supplies determined necessary by the director pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of 14
this section. 15
(c) Whenever school facilities are used for school-sponsored or school-approved curricular 16
or extracurricular activities, and whenever a school-sponsored athletic contest is held at any 17
location, the school officials and administrators responsible for the school facility or athletic contest 18
shall ensure the presence of at least one person who is properly trained in the administration of first 19
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aid and use of the trauma kit. 1
(d) No person, whether acting in an official capacity or as a private volunteer, who 2
gratuitously renders emergency assistance to a person who experiences a traumatic bleeding injury, 3
shall be liable for civil damages for any personal injuries which result from acts or omissions by 4
the person rendering the emergency care, which may constitute ordinary negligence; provided, 5
however that, this immunity applies only to: 6
(1) Persons who have been trained in accordance with standards promulgated by the US 7
Department of Homeland Security or the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma 8
(ACS COT) or an equivalent program as approved by the department of health; 9
(2) Persons providing approved training in traumatic bleeding injuries; 10
(3) Property lessees and owners where the emergency assistance occurs; and 11
(4) The owners of the actual life-saving equipment. 12
(e) Immunity from civil liability pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, 13
shall not extend or apply to acts or omissions constituting intentional harm or willful, wanton or 14
gross negligence. 15
(f) The director of the department of health is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and 16
regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section. 17
(g) Any elementary or secondary school may accept funding for the trauma kits from 18
grants, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, parent-teacher organizations, private parties and 19
government entities. 20
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027. 21
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL TRAUMA K IT ACT
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This act would require that every elementary and secondary school within the State of 1
Rhode Island, whether they are public or privately run, provide and maintain clearly visible and 2
easily accessible trauma kits. This act would also provide for immunity for trained persons that 3
gratuitously render emergency assistance to a person who experiences a traumatic bleeding injury. 4
This act would take effect on January 1, 2027. 5
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