AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 RELATING TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.

Education Healthcare

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Harris
Last action: 2025-07-30
Official status: Signed 7/30/25
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is not specified in the provided bill summary and text, so this remains unknown.

Delaware Act on Interscholastic Athletics Safety

This act requires Delaware schools with athletic programs to ensure coaches are trained in CPR, first aid, and using an AED, and mandates that each school has a clear emergency plan for cardiac arrest incidents.

What This Bill Does

Requires all coaches to obtain and maintain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Needs schools with athletic programs or departments to develop a specific Emergency Action Plan for responding to cardiac arrest incidents during sports events or practices.
Requires that an AED be clearly marked and easily accessible in an unlocked location at each school athletic venue and event.
Requires testing and maintenance of AEDs according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines.
Necessitates notification to the Office of Emergency Medical Services regarding the type and location of each AED.

Who It Names or Affects

Coaches in Delaware schools with interscholastic athletic programs
Schools that have an athletic department or program

Terms To Know

Automated External Defibrillator (AED): A portable device used to check a person's heart rhythm and, if needed, deliver an electric shock to help restore normal heart rhythm.
Emergency Action Plan: A plan that outlines the steps to take during emergencies like cardiac arrest at sports events or practices.

Limits and Unknowns

The effective date of this act is not specified in the provided information.
It does not specify what happens if a coach fails to get the required training.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HA 1

1 • Harris

Passed 6/12/25

Plain English: The amendment changes a requirement about having an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) available for school sports activities.

Removes the specific wording requiring an AED to be accessible only during an event, instead making it clear that an AED must be available during all school-sponsored athletic events and practices.

The amendment does not provide details on how or where the AED should be made accessible; these specifics are assumed to remain as previously established in the bill.

Bill History

2025-07-30 Delaware General Assembly
Signed by Governor
2025-06-30 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
2025-06-25 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
2025-06-18 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Education) in Senate with 4 On Its Merits
2025-06-18 Delaware General Assembly
Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate
2025-06-12 Delaware General Assembly
Amendment HA 1 to HB 71 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
2025-06-12 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT
2025-06-12 Delaware General Assembly
Assigned to Education Committee in Senate
2025-06-10 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 2 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
2025-06-10 Delaware General Assembly
Amendment HA 1 to HB 71 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
2025-05-08 Delaware General Assembly
Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House
2025-05-07 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 8 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
2025-03-12 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 RELATING TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.
This Act requires the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association to promulgate regulations requiring all coaches to have CPR, first aid, and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. It also requires schools with an athletic program or department to have an Emergency Action Plan for responding to a cardiac arrest event at an athletic event or practice. It requires that an AED be accessible in a clearly marked, unlocked location at any athletic event or venue. Finally, the regulations must require testing and maintenance of AEDs and notification to the Office of Emergency Medical Services regarding the AED acquisition and its location.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Harris & Rep. Heffernan & Sen. Poore

Reps. Jones Giltner, Bush, Lynn, Ross Levin, Kamela Smith, Lambert, Bolden, Griffith, K. Williams, D. Short; Sens. Buckson, Hansen

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 71

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 RELATING TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 303, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 303. Regulations, policies, and procedures.

(e) The Board shall adopt regulations applicable to a member school regarding student athletes and awareness, recognition, and management of sudden cardiac arrest. The Board shall, through either regulation or policy adopted under regulation, do at least all of the following:

(4)

Hold a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (“CPR”) certification for each school-appointed head coach. The certification must include training on the use of an automated external defibrillator.

(f) The Board shall adopt regulations relating to secondary and middle school interscholastic athletics that do at least all of the following:

(1) Require all coaches to obtain and maintain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Training and certification in CPR and AED use must be consistent with national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines.

(2)

Require that each school with an athletic department or program develop an athletic Emergency Action Plan (Plan) to respond to incidents of cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency during a school athletic practice or event. The Plan must follow nationally recognized recommendations and be venue-specific, widely distributed, posted, and rehearsed annually.

(3) Require that an AED be clearly marked and easily accessible in an unlocked location at each school athletic venue and event. The AED must be accessible during the school day and any school-sponsored athletic event or team practice in which students of the school are participating.

The AED must be placed in accordance with nationally recognized guidelines focused on emergency cardiovascular care.

(4) Require that AEDs be tested and maintained according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines.

(5) Require notification is provided to the Office of Emergency Medical Services regarding the AED, the type acquired, and its location.

SYNOPSIS

This Act requires the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association to promulgate regulations requiring all coaches to have CPR, first aid, and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. It also requires schools with an athletic program or department to have an Emergency Action Plan for responding to a cardiac arrest event at an athletic event or practice. It requires that an AED be accessible in a clearly marked, unlocked location at any athletic event or venue. Finally, the regulations must require testing and maintenance of AEDs and notification to the Office of Emergency Medical Services regarding the AED acquisition and its location.