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HB51 • 2026

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE.

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE.

Budget Education Healthcare Labor
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
GARRETT
Last action
2025-12-08
Official status
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details about the exact number of AEDs required per state building.

Emergency Medical Response Act

This bill requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to install automated external defibrillators in all state buildings, including public schools, by January 1, 2026, and provides training for their use.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) to install at least one automated external defibrillator on each floor of every state building by January 1, 2026.
  • Directs DAGS to create a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan and work with counties to integrate it into their emergency service protocols.
  • Requires DAGS to provide training for the use of automated external defibrillators and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for state employees and security staff in certain agencies.

Who It Names or Affects

  • State employees
  • Public school students and visitors

Terms To Know

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
An electronic device that can diagnose cardiac arrhythmias and use defibrillation to restore an effective heart rhythm.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
An emergency procedure involving clearing air passages, mouth-to-mouth breathing, and chest compressions to help someone who has stopped breathing or whose heart has stopped beating.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact number of AEDs required per state building.
  • It is unclear how much funding will be allocated for this initiative beyond fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-01-21 H

    Referred to LAB, EDN, FIN, referral sheet 1

  3. 2025-01-16 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  4. 2025-01-10 H

    Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE.
DAGS; Automated External Defibrillators; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; State Buildings; Public Schools; Training; Cardiac Emergency Response Plan; Counties; Appropriations ($)
No later than January 1, 2026, requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to install and maintain automated external defibrillators in all state buildings, including all public schools. Requires DAGS to establish a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan and work with the counties to implement the plan into the counties' emergency service provider protocols. Requires DAGS to provide trainings on the use of automated external defibrillators and the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for state employees and security staff of certain state agencies. Makes appropriations.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB51

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

51

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by
adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"
Chapter

CardiAC
emergency response readiness

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� -1
�
Definitions.
�
As used in this chapter:

����
"Automated
external defibrillator" or "AED" means a portable electronic
device, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, that is
capable of diagnosing cardiac arrythmias and uses defibrillation to reestablish
an effective cardiac rhythm.

����
"Cardiopulmonary resuscitation"
or "CPR" means an emergency procedure to restore normal breathing
after cardiac arrest that includes the clearance of air passages to the lungs,
mouth-to-mouth method of artificial respiration, and heart massage by the
exertion of pressure on the chest.

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"Department"
means the department of accounting and general services.

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"State
building" means any building or portion thereof that is owned or leased by
the State and is occupied by state employees.
�

For purposes of this chapter, "state building" includes all
public schools as defined in section 302A-101.

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� -2
�
Requirement to install and maintain automated
external defibrillators in state buildings; cardiac emergency response plan;
counties.
�
(a)
�
No later than January 1, 2026, the department
shall install in every state building at least one AED placed on each floor, in
a location accessible to employees of the state building and the public
visiting the state building; provided that the AED shall be placed in
accordance with nationally recognized emergency cardiovascular care guidelines.

����
(b)
�
The department shall notify emergency
services providers, as defined under section 78-52, of the existence, location,
and type of each automated external defibrillator installed in a state
building.

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(c)
�

The department shall develop a cardiac emergency response plan that
addresses the appropriate use of personnel to respond to incidents involving an
individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening
emergency in a state building.
�
The
department shall work directly with the emergency service providers of each
county to integrate the cardiac emergency response plan into the county's
emergency service provider protocols.
�

Each plan shall integrate evidence-based core elements, including those
recommended by the American Heart Association or nationally recognized
recommendations or core elements.

����
(d)
�
This section shall not apply to state
buildings where the lease agreement specifically prohibits AEDs.

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� -3
�
Administering agency.
�
The department shall administer the
provisions of this chapter and adopt rules, exempt from chapter 91, necessary
to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

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� -4
�
Training.
�

(a)
�
The department shall provide CPR
training and AED training for all of its employees and the employees and
security staff of the:

����
(1)
�
Office of the governor;

����
(2)
�
Office of the lieutenant governor;

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(3)
�
State legislature;

����
(4)
�
Department of education;

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(5)
�
Department of law enforcement; and

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(6)
�
Department of corrections and
rehabilitation,

in
accordance with evidence-based guidelines adopted by the American Heart
Association, the American National Red Cross, or a nationally recognized
instructional program that is based on the most current national evidence-based
emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for the administration of CPR or an
AED.

����
(b)
�
The department may contract for or procure as
necessary the services of another public or private entity to assist with the
training required under this section.

����
(c)
�
Each state agency listed in subsection (a)
shall provide to the department the names and electronic mail addresses of
those state employees required to take the applicable training and shall assist
the department by providing adequate meeting facilities, equipment, and
technical support as needed for the training.

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� -5
�
Maintenance.
�
The department shall conduct periodic
inspections of all AEDS to ensure that they are maintained in an operative
condition and are replaced or repaired when defective in accordance with:

����
(1)
�
Nationally
recognized emergency cardiovascular care guidelines; and

����
(2)
�
The
operation and maintenance guidelines established by the manufacturer.

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� -6
�
Exception to liability.
�
Any person who:

����
(1)
�
Administers
an AED installed or maintained pursuant to this chapter; or

����
(2)
�
Performs
CPR pursuant to this chapter,

shall be
subject to section 663-1.5(e), and the protections provided thereunder."

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same
sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the
installation and maintenance of automated external defibrillators in state
buildings pursuant to this Act.

����
The
sums

appropriated shall be expended
by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this
Act.

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SECTION
3.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same
sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the
department of accounting and general services to provide trainings on the use
of automated external defibrillators and performance of cardiopulmonary
resuscitation for state employees and security staff for certain state agencies
pursuant to this Act.

����
The
sums

appropriated shall be expended
by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this
Act.

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SECTION
4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1,
2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DAGS;
Automated External Defibrillators; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; State
Buildings; Public Schools; Training; Cardiac Emergency Response Plan; Counties;
Appropriations

Description:

No later
than January 1, 2026, requires the Department of Accounting and General
Services to install and maintain automated external defibrillators in all state
buildings, including all public schools.
�

Requires DAGS to establish a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan and work
with the counties to implement the plan into the counties' emergency service
provider protocols.
�
Requires DAGS to
provide trainings on the use of automated external defibrillators and the
performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for state employees and security
staff of certain state agencies.
�
Makes
appropriations.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.