Pennsylvania HB 191: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in certification of teachers, repealing provisions relating to CPR instruction; and, in school health services, repealing provisions relating to automatic external defibrillators and providing for AED and CPR instruction and procedure, for Automated External Defibrillator Program and for availability and specifications of automated external defibrillators.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 138, 1646 PRINTER'S NO. 1840
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 191
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BRENNAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, PROBST, KHAN, KUZMA,
SANCHEZ, PIELLI, GUENST, HANBIDGE, BOROWSKI, GIRAL, HILL-
EVANS, HOWARD, DONAHUE, HADDOCK, WARREN, CIRESI, FREEMAN,
FLEMING, OTTEN, HOHENSTEIN, KENYATTA, DEASY, GREEN, DALEY AND
CURRY, JANUARY 16, 2025
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
JUNE 4, 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 certification of teachers,
repealing provisions relating to CPR instruction; and, in
school health services, repealing provisions relating to
automatic external defibrillators and providing for AED and
CPR instruction and procedure, for Automated External
Defibrillator Program and for availability and specifications
of automated external defibrillators.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 1205.4 and 1423 of the act of March 10,
1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
are repealed:
[Section 1205.4. CPR Instruction.--(a) School entities
shall be required to offer a cardiopulmonary resuscitation
training (CPR) class on school premises at least once every
three years. The course shall be offered as an option to all
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employes of the school entity.
(b) Completion of training, including testing of skills and
knowledge, shall be documented by the signature and title of a
representative of the training entity and shall include the date
training was completed. Documentation shall be retained in the
facility in that employe's file. Training shall be conducted by:
(1) the American Red Cross;
(2) the American Heart Association;
(3) an individual certified to conduct CPR training by the
American Red Cross, American Heart Association or other
certifying agency approved by the Department of Health; or
(4) other certifying agency approved by the Department of
Health.
(c) School districts may include this training in the
continuing education plan submitted by the district to the
Department of Education under section 1205.1.
(d) For purposes of this section, a school entity shall be
defined as a local school district, intermediate unit or area
career and technical school.
Section 1423. Automatic External Defibrillators.--(a) The
department shall establish an automatic external defibrillator
program to assist school entities and nonpublic schools in
making automatic external defibrillators available in school
buildings.
(b) On a biennial basis, the department, in consultation
with the Department of General Services and the Department of
Health, shall issue an invitation to bid for the cost of
automatic external defibrillators and other equipment and
supplies necessary for the proper operation of the device. The
department shall accept the bid of the lowest responsible bidder
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and permit any school entity or nonpublic school to purchase the
devices at the contract bid price. The department may purchase
automatic external defibrillators from any funds appropriated
pursuant to subsection (k) for distribution to school entities
and nonpublic schools.
(c) To be eligible to obtain or purchase automatic external
defibrillators under the program a school entity or nonpublic
school must:
(1) Assure that two (2) or more persons assigned to the
location where the automatic external defibrillator will be
primarily housed are trained as required in subsection (d).
(2) Ensure that the device will be secured in a safe and
readily accessible location and agree to properly maintain and
test the device according to the manufacturer's operational
guidelines.
(3) Submit a valid prescription for the device from a
licensed medical practitioner in this Commonwealth.
(4) Agree to provide the training required by subsection
(d).
(d) School personnel who are expected to use the automatic
external defibrillator shall complete training in
cardiopulmonary resuscitation and in the use of an automatic
external defibrillator provided by the American Heart
Association, the American Red Cross or through an equivalent
course of instruction approved by the Department of Health.
(e) A school entity may include the training required by
subsection (d) in its continuing professional education plan
submitted to the department under section 1205.1.
(f) The provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2 (relating to good
Samaritan civil immunity for use of automated external
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defibrillator) shall apply to school employ