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H2556 • 2025

An Act relative to AEDs for athletic fields

An Act relative to AEDs for athletic fields

Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Marcus S. Vaughn
Last action
2026-03-16
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5234
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to AEDs for athletic fields

An Act relative to AEDs for athletic fields By Representative Vaughn of Wrentham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to AEDs for athletic fields By Representative Vaughn of Wrentham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 2556) of Marcus S.
  • Vaughn that cities and towns and schools be required to provide and maintain automated external defibrillators at athletic fields, parks and playgrounds.
  • Public Health.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-16 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5234

  2. 2025-03-24 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 04/02/2025 from 09:00 AM-02:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Public Health

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to AEDs for athletic fields
By Representative Vaughn of Wrentham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2556) of Marcus S. Vaughn that cities and towns and schools be required to provide and maintain automated external defibrillators at athletic fields, parks and playgrounds. Public Health.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.2556

SECTION 1. Chapter 45 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 26. (a) Each municipality shall provide and maintain at least 1 automated external defibrillator, AED, at each athletic field, park and playground that is maintained by the municipality. The parks and recreation department of a municipality may, at its discretion, require additional AEDs be provided and maintained by the municipality at any athletic field, park or playground that is maintained by the municipality.

(b) Any municipality that is required to provide and maintain an AED pursuant to subsection (a) shall provide mandatory training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of AEDs to: all staff employed by its parks and recreation department; all sports coaches, umpires, referees and other sports officials who participate in athletic events held at athletic fields, parks or playgrounds maintained by the municipality; and any other group as determined by the parks and recreation department of the municipality.

(c) The parks and recreation department of each municipality subject to this section may contract on behalf of the municipality for the procurement of AEDs and the mandatory training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of AEDs required by subsection (b).

SECTION 2. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 54C and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 54C. (a) Each school district, vocational district, charter school, approved private day or residential school and collaborative school shall provide and maintain at least 1 automated external defibrillator, AED, on site at each school facility where instruction is provided. Each school shall have on staff a person who is an AED provider having current certification in a training course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and in the use of an AED in accordance with the standards established by the American Heart Association or the American National Red Cross.

(b) Each school district, vocational district, charter school, approved private day or residential school and collaborative school that maintains athletic fields for use in school-sponsored athletic events shall provide and maintain at least 1 AED in the area of the athletic fields. The school administration shall ensure that an AED provider is readily available at any school-sponsored athletic event.

(c) Any school system that is required to provide and maintain an AED pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) shall provide mandatory training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of AEDs to all staff employed by the school system, including sports coaches.

(d) If a school system is unable to comply with the requirements of this section, the superintendent of the school district, the administration of a private day or residential school or the board of trustees of a charter school, shall request a hardship waiver from the department of elementary and secondary education. The department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with the department of public health, shall make available to public schools a list of grants and other funding sources that a public school may access to facilitate the purchase of AEDs.

(e) Any school staff member who, in good faith, attempts to render emergency care, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation or defibrillation, and does so without compensation, shall not be liable

for acts or omissions, other than gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct, resulting from the attempt to render such emergency care.

(f) The department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with the department of public health, shall establish regulations and guidelines for the implementation, training, support and supervision of this section.

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