Pennsylvania SB 620: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in grounds and buildings, providing for automated external defibrillator placement, inspection, maintenance and plan; in school health services, further providing for automatic external defibrillators; and, in charter schools, further providing for provisions applicable to charter schools and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 631
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 620
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MUTH, KANE, HUGHES, COMITTA, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA,
FONTANA, SAVAL AND HAYWOOD, APRIL 11, 2025
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 11, 2025
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 grounds and buildings, providing
for automated external defibrillator placement, inspection,
maintenance and plan; in school health services, further
providing for automatic external defibrillators; and, in
charter schools, further providing for provisions applicable
to charter schools and for applicability of other provisions
of this act and of other acts and regulations.
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 743. Automated External Defibrillator Placement,
Inspection, Maintenance and Plan.--(a) Beginning in the 2025-
2026 school year and each school y ear thereafter, each school
building or facility where children in kindergarten through
grade twelve attend school or participate in school-sponsored
activities shall have at least one automated external
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defibrillator system placed in a central location that is
accessible for use. A school entity shall place an automated
external defibrillator:
(1) with appropriate signage in accordance with best
practices and American Heart Association guidelines on the
effective date of this section, including three dimensional
signs and arrows, in plain view, leading to and beside the
automated external defibrillator;
(2) with instructions for the proper use of the automated
external defibrillator at the location of the automated external
defibrillator;
(3) in an accessible location during normal school hours and
any school-sponsored activities;
(4) in compliance with 42 U.S.C. Ch. 126 (relating to equal
opportunity for individuals with disabilities), including
placing the automated external defibrillator not more than
forty-eight (48) inches above the floor or ground; and
(5) in a location that is no more than one thousand (1,000)
feet in distance from a designated member of the cardiac
emergency response team under subsection (d) in the school
entity's protocol for access to the automated external
defibrillator.
(b) For an automated external defibrillator installed before
the effective date of this section, a school entity shall
register the automated external defibrillator within ten days of
the effective date of this section. For an automated external
defibrillator installed after the effective date of this
section, a school entity shall register the automated external
defibrillator immediately upon installation. The school entity
shall register the automated external defibrillator with the
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following:
(1) The National AED Registry.
(2) The manufacturer of the automated external
defibrillator.
(3) Local emergency medical services.
(c) A school entity shall develop a schedule to inspect an
automated external defibrillator in each school building or
facility and a standard form for completion as a record of the
inspection. The following shall apply:
(1) The schedule to inspect shall require the cardiac
emergency response plan site coordinator under subsection (e) to
inspect the automated external defibrillator in accordance with
the manufacturer's guidelines and to visually determine if there
is obvious damage indicating that the automated external
defibrillator device or cabinet has been compromised. If the
inspection indicates that the automated external defibrillator
is nonoperational, the cardiac emergency response plan site
coordinator shall immediately do all of the following:
(i) Notify local emergency medical services, the school
building administrator, each cardiac emergency response team
member and the students, parents, teachers and staff located in
the school building or facility where the automated external
defibrillator is located.
(ii) Indicate with appropriate signage at the location of
the automated external defibrillator that the automated external
defibrillator is nonoperational.
(iii) Provide instructions with appropriate signage at the
location of the automated external defibrillator where the
closest operational automated external defibrillator is located.
(iv) Order replacement parts, request a loaner automated
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external defibrillator and provide notice of the expected date
of restoration of the autom