School curriculum: physical education framework: cardiopulmonary resuscitation: automated external defibrillators.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill encourages but does not mandate the inclusion of CPR and AED information in future updates to the physical education framework.

School Curriculum: Teaching CPR and Using AEDs

This law requires high schools to teach students how to perform compression-only CPR and use automated external defibrillators (AEDs) as part of their health education curriculum.

What This Bill Does

• Requires school districts with grades 9-12 to include instruction on performing compression-only CPR in required health courses starting the 2027–28 school year.
• Requires schools to teach students how to use AEDs as part of their health education curriculum.
• Asks the State Department of Education to provide guidance for implementing these requirements before the start of the 2027-28 school year.
• Encourages the Instructional Quality Commission to include information about CPR and AED usage in future updates to the physical education framework.

Who It Names or Affects

• High schools with grades 9 through 12
• Students enrolled in health education courses at these high schools

Terms To Know

Compression-only CPR

A type of cardiopulmonary resuscitation that focuses on chest compressions without rescue breaths.

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

A portable device used to check a heart's rhythm and, if needed, deliver an electric shock to help restore a normal heartbeat.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify who will provide the training or how it will be funded.
• It is unclear what additional costs might arise from implementing this requirement and whether they will be fully covered by state reimbursement.

Official Summary Text

SB 945, as amended, Weber Pierson.
Pupil instruction:
School curriculum: physical education framework:
cardiopulmonary resuscitation: automated external defibrillators.
Existing law requires the governing board of a school district or the governing body of a charter school that requires a course in health education for graduation from high school to include instruction in performing compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), as provided. Existing law also encourages those entities to provide to pupils general information on the use and importance of an automated external defibrillators (AED). Existing law further requires the State Department of Education to provide guidance on how to implement these provisions, including, but not limited to, who may provide instruction.
This bill would instead require, commencing with the 2027–28 school year, the governing board of a school district or the governing body of a charter school that maintains any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to provide instruction in
performing compression-only CPR and how to use an AED as part of a course required for graduation. The bill would also require the department to provide guidance on how to implement these provisions before the commencement of the 2027–28 school year.
By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes the Instructional Quality Commission and requires the commission to, among other things, recommend curriculum frameworks to the State Board of Education.
This bill would require the commission, when the physical education framework is next revised after January 1, 2027, to consider including content on the importance, performance, and use of CPR and AEDs in that framework.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF