CPR/AED TRAINING REQUIRED

FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

House Bill 5160 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Thomas B. Hooker

Committee:  Education

Complete to 4-27-16

SUMMARY:

House Bill 5160 would amend the Revised School Code to require all students be provided instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AED) before receiving a high school diploma, beginning in the 2016-2017 school year. 

CPR and AED Instruction

Specifically, each school district, board of directors of a public school academy (charter school), or governing body of a nonpublic school that operates grades 7-12 must provide instruction in CPR to all students enrolled in grades 7-12.  They must also ensure that the psychomotor skills necessary to perform CPR are incorporated into the instruction (which indicates that students must practice the respirations and chest compressions in addition to receiving instruction).  Finally, they must ensure that the instruction is based on either (1) an instructional program developed by the American Heart Association or (2) nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines for CPR. 

An AED is a medical device that analyzes the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electric shock which helps the heart re-establish effective rhythm.  School districts and the governing bodies for charter and nonpublic schools must also provide instruction about AEDs to students in grades 7-12. 

In order to be issued a high school diploma, a pupil must successfully complete the CPR and AED instruction described above. 

Qualifications of instructor  

A certificated teacher may facilitate, provide or oversee instruction on these topics even if not an authorized CPR/AED instructor.  However, if the CPR instruction described above would result in a pupil earning a CPR certification card or status, that instruction must be taught by an authorized CPR/AED instructor. 

Required attendance and participation

For a student to be considered to have successfully completed this instruction, a school district or the governing body of a charter school or nonpublic school must require that the student be physically present for the instruction and to participate in all aspects of the training unless the student is physically unable to do so due to a disability.

Encouraged to use local resources

The bill also encourages school districts and governing bodies to use locally available resources to provide this instruction, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, police officers, firefighters, representatives of the American Heart Association of American Red Cross, or properly trained teachers or other school employees.

Monitoring by Department of Education

The bill requires the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to establish a procedure for monitoring compliance with the requirement for CPR and AED instruction, as well as completion of both components as a requirement for a high school diploma.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would increase costs, by an indeterminate amount, for the state, and could increase costs, by an indeterminate amount, for intermediate school districts (ISDs), school districts, and public school academies (PSAs).

The Michigan Department of Education would incur increased administrative costs, by an indeterminate amount, to establish a monitoring procedure for local boards of providing training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AED).  The bill could also increase costs to schools that are not already requiring training in CPR and AEDs for graduation requirements.  While not required, additional costs to schools could include certification of teaching personnel to provide certification card or status training to students.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Jennifer McInerney

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Bethany Wicksall

                                                                                                                           Samuel Christensen

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.