PRINTER'S NO. 1040
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
521
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY KILLION, BARTOLOTTA, BLAKE, BREWSTER, COSTA,
DINNIMAN, FOLMER, HAYWOOD, LAUGHLIN, LEACH, McGARRIGLE,
MENSCH, RAFFERTY, RESCHENTHALER, SABATINA, SCHWANK AND
STEFANO, JUNE 29, 2017
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JUNE 29, 2017
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
providing for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and for
cardiopulmonary resuscitation in schools.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding sections
to read:
Section 1528. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.--(a) The State
Board of Education and the Department of Education shall work in
consultation with the American Heart Association and American
Red Cross to further develop the existing academic standards for
cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction for students in grades
nine through 12. The Department of Education shall:
(i) Further develop the existing academic standards for
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cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction no later than twenty-
four (24) months after the effective date of this section.
(ii) Provide the enhanced academic standards and other
materials developed to a nonpublic school within this
Commonwealth upon receiving request from the nonpublic school.
(b) The academic standards shall be amended to include the
following:
(i) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation shall be defined as "a
first aid technique utilizing hands-only compressions of the
chest used to revive a person whose heart has stopped beating."
(ii) The following phrases shall be added and defined:
(A) Assessment of cardiac arrest.
(B) Psychomotor skills.
(C) Application of hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Section 1529. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Schools.--(a)
School instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation as under
academic standards and under section 1528 shall include the
following:
(i) An instructional program developed by the American Heart
Association, the American Red Cross or another program that is
nationally recognized and is based on the most current American
Heart Association or American Red Cross guidelines for
cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care.
(ii) The psychomotor skills necessary to perform
cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
(iii) Information on the purpose of an automated external
defibrillator.
(b) The instruction may be integrated into an appropriate
course of study. A teacher, instructor or community volunteer
may provide, facilitate or oversee the instruction and is not
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required to be a certified cardiopulmonary resuscitation
trainer.
(c) If a pupil is unable to perform the psychomotor skill
component of the instruction, or upon written request of the
pupil's parent or guardian, a pupil shall be excused from taking
the instruction under this section.
(d) Employes who complete continuing professional education
under section 1205.4 in regards to cardiopulmonary resuscitation
and first aid training shall receive credit under section 1205.2
if the training has been approved by the Department of
Education.
(e) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Psychomotor skills." The use of hands-on practice to
support cognitive learning.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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