The California Youth Cardiac Screening Pilot Program.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not specify that the CPR requirement applies only to events near swimming pools, though this is likely an omission rather than intentional exclusion.

California Youth Cardiac Screening Pilot Program

This law establishes a pilot program offering free heart screenings for students in grades 5 to 12 and requires at least two adults trained in CPR to be present during school events near swimming pools that are not part of interscholastic athletic programs.

What This Bill Does

• Establishes the California Youth Cardiac Screening Pilot Program, which provides free cardiac screening tests for students from grade 5 to grade 12.
• Requires at least two adults with CPR certification to be present during any school event near a swimming pool that is not part of an interscholastic athletic program.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students in grades 5 through 12 who attend California schools.
• School districts and charter schools hosting events near swimming pools on their campuses, excluding interscholastic athletic programs.

Terms To Know

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a life-saving technique used to help someone whose heart has stopped beating.

Interscholastic athletic program

A sports or physical activity competition between different schools.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill needs funding from the Legislature before it can start.
• After January 1, 2031, parts of this law about the pilot program will no longer be in effect.

Official Summary Text

AB 2144, as amended, Garcia.
On-campus events: swimming pools: adult presence: cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.
The California Youth Cardiac Screening Pilot Program.
The Eric Paredes Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act requires the State Department of Education to post on its internet website guidelines, videos, and an information sheet on sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and warning signs, and other relevant materials relating to sudden cardiac arrest. The act also places certain duties on schools related to sudden cardiac arrest and requires athletic directors, coaches, athletic trainers, or authorized persons, as defined, to remove from participation a pupil who passes out or faints while participating in or immediately following an athletic activity.
This bill would require the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to establish the California Youth Cardiac Screening Pilot Program to provide, among other
things, free cardiac screening for pupils in grades 5 to 12, inclusive, for the 2027–28 to 2029–30 school years, inclusive, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to administer the program itself or to contract with a nonprofit organization to administer the program and certain funding, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to receive voluntary or reduced-cost services from medical providers and other individuals related to the program. The bill would require the department to annually report certain information to the Department of Finance and to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, and would repeal the bill’s provisions related to the pilot program on January 1, 2031.
If a school district or charter school elects to sponsor or host, in or around a swimming pool, an on-campus event that is not part of an interscholastic athletic program, existing law requires the school district or charter school to require at least one adult with a valid certification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training to be present throughout the duration of the event, as provided.
This bill instead would require at least 2 adults to be present throughout the duration of a school sponsored event or activity who are certified as described above.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF