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A00668
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
115
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY KILLION, ARGALL, BAKER, BARTOLOTTA, BLAKE,
BOSCOLA, BROWNE, COSTA, DINNIMAN, FOLMER, FONTANA, HAYWOOD,
LANGERHOLC, LAUGHLIN, MARTIN, MENSCH, SCAVELLO, SCHWANK,
STEFANO AND J. WARD, JANUARY 29, 2019
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JANUARY 29, 2019
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 education.
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 a
section to read:
Section 1528. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Education.--(a)
In accordance with the academic standards for health, safety and
physical education for grades nine through twelve and not later
than the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, the department,
in consultation with the Department of Health and at least one
organization recognized under section 1205.4, shall identify or
develop a model curriculum and curriculum guidelines for
instruction on cardiopulmonary resuscitation for public school
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students in grades nine through twelve.
(b) The model curriculum and guidelines shall:
(1) be posted in the department's publicly accessible
Internet website;
(2) be age-appropriate;
(3) be revised regularly to remain current with national
standards;
(4) provide guidance for integration into health courses or
other appropriate curriculum requirement as listed in 22 Pa.
Code § 4.23 (relating to high school education);
(5) be made available to all school entities;
(6) include compilation of recommended guidelines and
educational materials from organizations with expertise in CPR
and emergency care;
(7) incorporate psychomotor skills training, including
hands-only CPR technique; and
(8) include information on the purpose of an automated
external defibrillator.
(c) (1) A school entity that offers instruction in CPR may
utilize the model curriculum developed under subsections (a) and
(b) or develop the school entity's own curriculum in accordance
with academic standards and consistent with guidelines developed
under subsections (a) and (b). A school entity may utilize
appropriate publicly or privately available materials, personnel
and other resources in developing and implementing this
instruction, subject to the requirements of section 111 and 23
Pa.C.S. § 6344 (relating to employees having contact with
children; adoptive and foster parents).
(2) A teacher, instructor or community volunteer , with the
participation of a professional educator with a Pennsylvania
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certification, including a professional educator certified in
physical education or health education or a school nurse, may
provide, facilitate or oversee the instruction offered by a
school entity under this section and need not be a certified CPR
trainer.
(d) An individual who in good faith provides instruction in
CPR to a student under this section shall not be liable for any
civil damages as a result of any act or omission relating to the
instruction, except for an act or omission intentionally
designed to harm or a grossly negligent act or omission that
results in harm to an individual to whom the student administers
CPR.
(e) A cyber charter school may provide the instruction under
this section through the Internet or other electronic means. If
a cyber charter school provides the instruction under this
section through the Internet or other electronic means, the
cyber charter school shall be exempt from the academic standards
and guidelines developed under subsections (a) and (b) regarding
in-person instructional requirements.
(f) 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:
"Automated external defibrillator." A portable defibrillator
designed to be automated for use by a person without substantial
medical training who responds to a cardiac emergency.
"Cardiopulmonary resuscitation" or "CPR." A first aid
technique utilizing hands-only compressions of the chest used to
revive an individual whose heart has stopped beating.
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
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"Psychomotor skills." The use of hands-on practice to
support cognitive learning.
"School entity." A school district, joint school district,
charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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