Encourages public school teachers to hold current certification in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and use of automated external defibrillator.

A2101

ASSEMBLY, No. 2101

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Assemblywoman MARGIE DONLON, M.D.

District 11 (Monmouth)

Assemblywoman ELLEN J. PARK

District 37 (Bergen)

SYNOPSIS

���� Encourages public school teachers to hold current
certification in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and use of
automated external defibrillator.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

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

��

An Act

concerning emergency first aid and
cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification for public school teachers and
supplementing chapter 40 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

���� 1.��� The Legislature finds
and declares that:

���� a.���� Sudden cardiac arrest
is a leading cause of death and can happen to anyone at any time or place,
including the school setting.

���� b.��� Although rare in young people, approximately 2,000
children and adolescents die each year of sudden cardiac arrest in the United
States.�

���� c.����
Many victims of cardiac arrest, including
children, appear healthy with no known history of heart disease or other risk
factors
.�

���� d.��� Immediately performing emergency response, such as
using
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
and
automated external defibrillator
, can double or triple a victim�s survival rates during a
cardiac emergency.

�

����
e.���� Injuries and sudden illnesses that require
first aid, including wounds, head and back injuries, broken bones, heat
exhaustion, and shortness of breath, are common occurrences in schools.

���� f.���� Effective and immediate
first aid treatment can stabilize injuries, reduce pain and discomfort, and
help save lives.

���� g.��� A school nurse may not
always be present on the scene of a medical emergency occurring at school.�
Encouraging teachers to be trained to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation
or first aid, and the use of an automated external defibrillator in an
emergency occurring at school can make all the difference in the time it takes
for an ambulance to arrive.

���� h.��� According to the
American Heart Association, nine in 10 people who get a shock from an automated
external defibrillator within the first minute of cardiac arrest live and the
chances of survival while waiting for emergency medical services during a
cardiac emergency decreases by 10 percent every minute without cardiopulmonary
resuscitation.�

���� i.���� A teacher who voluntarily
chooses to be trained in effectively administering cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, first aid, and the use of an automated external defibrillator
can save the life of a child, parent, teacher, or staff member.�

���� j.���� It is therefore
necessary and appropriate for the Legislature to strongly encourage public
school teachers to hold a certification in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, and the use of an automated external defibrillator, and to be
offered opportunities for certification, recognized for their commitment to
protecting the safety of students, and receive a professional incentive for
adding lifesavers to our schools and communities.�

���� 2.��� a.� Every school
district shall encourage teachers to hold a current certification in emergency
first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of an automated external
defibrillator from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or other
training program recognized by the Department of Health.

���� b.��� The Department of
Education shall provide teachers with opportunities to obtain certification
pursuant to subsection a. of this section in both traditional and online
formats.�

���� c.���� In order to provide
recognition of a teacher who voluntarily prioritizes the importance of life
saving measures in the State�s public schools, each school district shall award
a certificate of commendation to a teacher who obtains certification pursuant
to subsection a. of this section.� Each school district shall post a list of
the teachers who have been issued a certificate pursuant to this subsection on
the district�s Internet website.

���� d.��� A teacher may receive
eight hours towards the annual professional development requirements established
by the State Board of Education upon submitting proof of certification pursuant
to subsection a. of this section or the certificate issued pursuant to
subsection c. of this section.

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill encourages public
school teachers to hold a current certification in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, and the use of an automated external defibrillator from the
American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or other training program
recognized by the Department of Health.� The Department of Education is
required to provide teachers with opportunities to obtain certification in both
traditional and online formats.

���� Additionally, the bill
requires school districts to recognize teachers who voluntarily prioritize the
importance of life saving measures in the State�s public schools by awarding a
certificate of commendation to a teacher who obtains certification.� Each
school district is required to post a list of all teachers certified in emergency
first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of an automated external
defibrillator on the district�s Internet website.

���� The bill permits certified
teachers to receive eight hours towards the annual professional development
requirements established by the State Board of Education upon submitting proof of
their certification or the certificate issued by the school district for
obtaining certification.

���� Sudden cardiac arrest can
occur at any time and can happen to anyone, including students, teachers, or
parents at a school.� Additionally, injuries and sudden illnesses that require
emergency first aid treatment, such as broken bones, head and back injuries,
and shortness of breath, are common occurrences in the school setting.� Approximately
2,000 children and adolescents die each year of sudden cardiac arrest in the
United States.� Receiving immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation from a
bystander for cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim�s chance of
survival, and effective first aid treatment can stabilize an emergency
situation and save lives.� Encouraging teachers to hold a current certification
can help protect the health and safety of children, parents, and teachers in
our schools, while also adding lifesavers to our communities.