Requires institution of higher education to have automatic external defibrillator on premises of each athletic facility and student center.

A1853

ASSEMBLY, No. 1853

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman JAMES J. KENNEDY

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen Murphy, Haider, Park, Simmons and Assemblyman
Miller

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires institution of higher education to have
automatic external defibrillator on premises of each athletic facility and
student center.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act
concerning automatic external defibrillators and
supplementing chapter 3B of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.�

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a. Notwithstanding the
provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, an institution of
higher education shall place an automated external defibrillator, as defined in
section 2 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-24), in an unlocked location in each
athletic facility and student center with an appropriate identifying sign.� The
defibrillator shall be accessible during the normal operating hours of the
athletic facility or student center and within reasonable proximity of the
institution�s athletic fields.

���� b.��� The institution of
higher education shall ensure that:

���� (1)�� at least two staff
members who are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of the
defibrillator, in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1999, c.34
(C.2A:62A-25), are in the athletic facility or student center during the normal
operating hours; and

���� (2)�� each defibrillator is
tested and maintained according to the manufacturer�s operational guidelines,
and notification is provided to the appropriate first aid, ambulance, or rescue
squad, or other appropriate emergency medical services provider regarding the
defibrillator, the type acquired, and its location in accordance with section 3
of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-25).

���� c.���� An institution of
higher education and its staff shall, pursuant to the provisions of section 5
of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-27), be immune from civil liability in the
acquisition and use of a defibrillator pursuant to this section.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires an
institution of higher education to place an automated external defibrillator in
an unlocked location in each athletic facility and student center with an
appropriate identifying sign.� The defibrillator will be accessible during the
normal operating hours of the athletic facility or student center and within
reasonable proximity of the institution�s athletic fields.

���� Under the bill, the institution
is required to ensure that:

���� (1)�� at least two staff
members who are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of the
defibrillator are in the athletic facility or student center during the normal
operating hours; and

���� (2)�� each defibrillator is
tested and maintained according to the manufacturer�s operational guidelines,
and notification is provided to the appropriate first aid, ambulance, or rescue
squad, or other appropriate emergency medical services provider regarding the
defibrillator, the type acquired, and its location.

���� An institution of higher
education and its staff are granted immunity from civil liability in the
acquisition and use of a defibrillator.