AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS (Expands the requirement that all high schools and middle schools, whether they are publicly or privately run to maintain on site a functional AED while establishing and implementing a cardiac emergency response plan in these schools.)

S2079

2026 -- S 2079
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LC003168
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

Introduced By:
Senators Tikoian, Ciccone, Gallo, McKenney, Paolino, Bissaillon,
DiPalma, Murray, Patalano, and LaMountain

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 16-21-33.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21 entitled "Health
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and Safety of Pupils" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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16-21-33.1.
Automatic external defibrillators
Automated external defibrillators,
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cardiac emergency response plans, and athletic emergency action plans.
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(a) Legislative findings:
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(1) Approximately three hundred twenty-five thousand (325,000) Americans suffer sudden
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cardiac arrest (“SCA”) each year and more than ninety-five percent (95%) of them die before
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reaching the hospital;
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(2) In the population of Rhode Island, an estimated one thousand (1,000) residents will die
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of cardiac arrest every year;
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(3) No official statistics have been gathered about SCA in children, however experts
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estimate about three hundred (300) deaths because of SCA every year for people under the age of
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twenty-one (21) or about one tenth of one percent (.001%);
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(4) This means that at least one person under the age of twenty-one (21) years, most likely
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a student, will die due to athletics related SCA every year in Rhode Island;
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(5) If defibrillation is performed within five (5) to seven (7) minutes, chances of survival
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are increased by forty-nine percent (49%). Every minute that goes by without defibrillation reduces
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the chance of survival by seven percent (7%) to ten percent (10%);
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(6) Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are extremely accurate computerized devices

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that can be operated by the average person;
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(7) AEDs are inexpensive and grants for AEDs are mostly given to nonprofit organizations,
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such as schools; and
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(8) AEDs can be acquired through grants from various organizations or through
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government agencies.
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(1) More than three hundred fifty-six thousand (356,000) sudden cardiac arrests occur
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outside of a hospital each year in the United States. About ten percent (10%) of people survive.
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(2) It is estimated that there are more than twenty-three thousand (23,000) children under
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the age of eighteen (18) who experience sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year in the
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United States. Almost forty percent (40%) of these events are sports related.
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(3) In schools with automated external defibrillators (AEDs), approximately seventy
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percent (70%) of children survive sudden cardiac arrest, seven (7) times the overall survival rate
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for children.
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(4) The safety of students, school staff, visitors and spectators can be enhanced with a
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coordinated, practiced response plan where teams are trained and empowered to administer
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lifesaving care until emergency medical services (EMS) arrive on scene.
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(5) When sudden cardiac arrest occurs outside of a hospital, survival more than doubles
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when people nearby take action by dialing 911, starting CPR and using a publicly available AED
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compared to waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
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(b) Definitions: As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
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meanings:
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(1) “Athletic emergency action plan (EAP)” means written guidelines and templates for
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documentation of emergency planning to help prepare individuals for a catastrophic injury situation
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within sports.
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(2) “Automated external defibrillator (AED)” means a lightweight, portable device that
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delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can potentially stop an irregular
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heartbeat (arrhythmia) and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest.
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(3) “Cardiac emergency response plan (CERP)” means a written document that establishes
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the specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in any setting, be it a school, community
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organization, workplace, or sports facility.
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(4) “Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)” means when the heart malfunctions and stops beating
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unexpectedly. If not treated within minutes, it quickly leads to death.
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(b)
(c)
All high schools and middle schools, whether they are public or privately run, shall
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provide and maintain on-site functional automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in
quantities and

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types, deemed by the commissioner of education, in consultation with the director of health,

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accordance with guidelines set by the American Heart Association or an organization focused on
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emergency cardiovascular care, and as outlined in subsections (d) and (e) of this section,
to be
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adequate to ensure ready and appropriate access for use during emergencies. Whenever school
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facilities are used for school-sponsored or school-approved curricular or extracurricular activities,
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and whenever a school-sponsored athletic contest is held at any location, the school officials and
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administrators responsible for such school facility or athletic contest shall ensure the presence of at
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least one person who is properly trained in
cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and
the operation
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and use of an AED. Such training may be conducted by qualified personnel, including, but not
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limited to, municipal fire and police department employees.
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(d) Establishing cardiac emergency response plans in schools.
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(1) Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, each high school and middle school shall
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develop a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) that addresses the appropriate use of school
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personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a
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similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds.
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(2) Each CERP shall integrate evidence-based core elements, such as those recommended
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by American Heart Association guidelines or nationally-recognized, evidence-based standards
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focused on emergency cardiovascular care.
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(3) Appropriate AED placement shall be determined by the CERP in accordance with
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guidelines set by the American Heart Association or an organization focused on emergency
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cardiovascular care. AEDs shall be identified with appropriate signage and made available in an
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unlocked location on school property. AEDs shall be tested and maintained according to the
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manufacturer's operational guidelines. Notification shall be provided to the appropriate emergency
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medical services provider regarding the AED, the type acquired, and its location.
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(4) Appropriate school staff shall be trained in first aid, CPR, and AED use. Training shall
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be consistent with national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines. Staff trained
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shall be determined by the CERP including, but not limited to, licensed coaches, school nurses, and
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athletic trainers.
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(e) Establishing athletic emergency action plans (EAPs) for high school and middle school
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athletic venues and events.
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(1) Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, each high school and middle school with an
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athletic department or organized athletic program shall develop an athletic emergency action plan
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(EAP) to respond to incidents of sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency
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during a school athletic practice or event. The EAP shall follow nationally-recognized

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recommendations and be venue-specific, posted, widely distributed, and rehearsed annually.
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(2) An AED shall be clearly marked and easily accessible in an unlocked location at each
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school athletic venue during any school-sponsored athletic event or team practice in which students
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of the school are participating. AEDs shall be tested and maintained according to the manufacturer's
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operational guidelines. Notification shall be provided to the appropriate emergency medical
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services provider regarding the AED, the type acquired, and its location.
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(3) All high school and middle school coaches shall obtain and maintain training in first
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aid, CPR, and AED use. Certification in CPR and AED use shall be consistent with national
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evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines.
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(f) Implementation.
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(1) The commissioner of education, in collaboration with the director of the department of
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health, may adopt rules and regulations to implement this section.
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(2) The commissioner of education, in collaboration with the director of the department of
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health, shall establish a process to monitor compliance with this section.
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(3) A local education agency may accept gifts, grants, and donations, including in-kind
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donations designated for the purchase of an AED that meets the standards established by the United
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States Food and Drug Administration and for the costs incurred to inspect and maintain such device
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and train staff in the use of such device.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS
***
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This act would expand the requirement that all high schools and middle schools, whether
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they are publicly or privately run, to maintain on site functional automated external defibrillators
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(AED) while establishing and implementing a cardiac emergency response plan in these schools,
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inclusive of athletic activities, beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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