An Act To Require Students To Receive Instruction in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and the Use of an Automated External Defibrillator prior to Graduation
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6209, sub-§2, ¶D, as amended by PL 2007, c. 259, §5, is further amended to read:
Sec. 2. Standards for instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use. The Commissioner of Education shall establish, by rule, standards for instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or "CPR," and automated external defibrillator, or "AED," use. The commissioner shall base the standards for instruction of CPR and AED use on the programs established by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross or another program that is nationally recognized and uses the most current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular guidelines and incorporates psychomotor skills development into the instruction. The standards for instruction on AED use may not require the use of an AED but must include an explanation of AED use. A licensed teacher may not be required to be certified as a CPR or AED trainer or to facilitate, provide or oversee CPR or AED instruction. The rule must provide that courses that result in CPR and AED certification must be taught by a certified CPR or AED instructor. By the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year, every school that is required to participate in the system of learning results set forth in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6209 shall implement instruction in CPR and use of an AED based on the rules adopted by the commissioner. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 3. Effective date. That section of this Act that amends the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6209, subsection 2, paragraph D takes effect July 1, 2014.
SUMMARY
This bill requires that, as a condition of graduation from high school, beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, each student receive instruction and achieve proficiency in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator.