Schools/cardiac emergencies

AN ACT Relating to promoting cardiac emergency response plans in 1
schools; amending RCW 28A.300.471; adding new sections to chapter 2
28A.300 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.600 RCW.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
(1) Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, each school district 7
must ensure that each school within the district develops a cardiac 8
emergency response plan to prepare for persons who may experience a 9
cardiac arrest on school property inclusive of attendees and 10
participants in athletic practices or events. 11
(2) School officials shall work with local emergency service 12
providers to integrate the cardiac emergency response plan into the 13
community's emergency service response protocols. 14
(3)(a) Each cardiac emergency response plan required by this 15
section must include evidence-based core elements, such as those 16
recommended by the American heart association or other national 17
science organization. 18
(b) Each cardiac emergency response plan must:19
H-0862.3
HOUSE BILL 1863
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Rule, Thai, Stonier, Parshley, Goodman, Pollet,
and Zahn
Read first time 02/06/25. Referred to Committee on Education.
p. 1 HB 1863
(i) Designate a cardiac emergency response team comprised of 1
school staff and inclusive of coaches, school nurses, athletic 2
trainers, teachers, counselors, and administrators;3
(ii) Establish procedures for activating the cardiac emergency 4
response team if a person experiences cardiac arrest on school 5
property; 6
(iii) Designate locations on school property for the installation 7
of automated external defibrillators in accordance with guidance set 8
by the American heart association or other national science 9
organization, with the goal that they can be placed on a person 10
experiencing cardiac arrest on school property or at athletic venues 11
where practices or competitions are held within three minutes of 12
school staff becoming aware of the cardiac arrest;13
(iv) Establish a regular maintenance schedule, in accordance with 14
the manufacturer's operational guidelines, for automated external 15
defibrillators installed on school property; 16
(v) Establish a regular schedule, consistent with the American 17
heart association or other national science organization guidelines, 18
for cardiac emergency response team training in cardiopulmonary 19
resuscitation, first aid, and automated external defibrillator use;20
(vi) Establish dates for annual drills in cardiopulmonary 21
resuscitation, first aid, and automated external defibrillator use;22
(vii) Describe the coordination and integration of the cardiac 23
emergency response plan with local emergency service providers; and24
(viii) Establish procedures for responding to incidents of 25
cardiac arrest that occur off-campus during school-sponsored events.26
(4) Staff from each school shall review and update their cardiac 27
emergency response plan at least annually. 28
(5) School staff training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first 29
aid, and automated external defibrillator use must follow evidence-30
based guidelines set by the American heart association or other 31
national science organization. 32
(6) Locations for automated external defibrillator installations 33
must be determined by the cardiac emergency response plan and in 34
accordance with guidance set by the American heart association or 35
other national science organization. Each automated external 36
defibrillator must be identified with clear signage and stored in an 37
unlocked location on school property. 38
(7) Each automated external defibrillator must be tested and 39
maintained by the school according to the manufacturer's operational 40
p. 2 HB 1863
guidelines and local emergency service providers must be notified of 1
its type and location. 2
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 3
RCW to read as follows: 4
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall 5
establish and administer a grant program to help public schools 6
develop cardiac emergency response plans and implementation 7
procedures, staff training, and automated external defibrillator 8
purchases and maintenance in accordance with section 1 of this act. 9
In awarding grants under this section to school districts for use in 10
public schools, the office of the superintendent of public 11
instruction shall prioritize schools where 50 percent or more of the 12
enrolled students, averaged over the previous three years before 13
applying for a grant, are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.14
(2) School districts and public schools may accept gifts, grants, 15
and donations, including in-kind donations intended for: (a) The 16
purchase of an automated external defibrillator that meets the 17
standards established by the United States food and drug 18
administration; (b) costs incurred to inspect and maintain the 19
defibrillator; and (c) costs incurred to train staff in the use of 20
the defibrillator. 21
(3) This section governs school operation and management under 22
RCW 28A.710.040 and 28A.715.020 and applies to charter schools 23
established under chapter 28A.710 RCW and state-tribal education 24
compact schools subject to chapter 28A.715 RCW to the same extent as 25
it applies to school districts. 26
Sec. 3. RCW 28A.300.471 and 2013 c 181 s 2 are each amended to 27
read as follows: 28
(1) An automated external defibrillator is often a critical 29
component in the chain of survival for a cardiac arrest victim.30
(2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in 31
consultation with school districts and stakeholder groups, shall 32
develop guidance for a medical emergency response and automated 33
external defibrillator program for high schools. 34
(3) The medical emergency response and automated external 35
defibrillator program must comply with current evidence-based 36
guidance from the American heart association or other national 37
science organization. 38
p. 3 HB 1863
(4) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in 1
consultation with the department of health, shall assist districts in 2
carrying out a program under this section, including providing 3
guidelines and advice for seeking grants , including grants 4
administered under section 2 of this act, for the purchase of 5
automated external defibrillators or seeking donations of automated 6
external defibrillators. The superintendent may coordinate with local 7
health districts or other organizations in seeking grants and 8
donations for this purpose. 9
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 10
RCW to read as follows: 11
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, all athletic coaches for 12
activities governed by the Washington interscholastic activities 13
association or other comparable voluntary nonprofit entity shall 14
obtain and maintain training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first 15
aid, and the use of an automated external defibrillator. 16
Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external 17
defibrillator use must be consistent with national evidence-based 18
emergency cardiovascular care guidelines. 19
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p. 4 HB 1863