AB 1708

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Under existing law, everyone is generally responsible, not only for the result of their willful acts, but also for an injury occasioned to another by their want of ordinary care or skill in the management of their property or person. Existing law exempts from civil liability any person who, in good faith and not for compensation, renders emergency medical or nonmedical care or assistance at the scene of an emergency other than an act or omission constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. Existing law exempts public or private organizations that sponsor, authorize, support, finance, or supervise the training of people, or certifies those people in emergency medical services, from liability for civil damages alleged to result from those training programs. This bill would define "trauma kit" to mean a first aid response kit that contains specified items, including, among other things, at least 2 tourniquets. The bill would require a person or entity that supplies a trauma kit to provide the person or entity that acquires the trauma kit with all information governing the use, installation, operation, training, and maintenance of the trauma kit. The bill would apply the provisions governing civil liability described above to a lay rescuer or person who renders emergency care or treatment by the use of a trauma kit and to a person or entity that provides training in the use of a trauma kit to provide emergency medical treatment, or certifies certain persons in the use of a trauma kit. Existing law requires certain occupied structures that are not owned or operated by any local government entity and are constructed on or after January 1, 2017, to have an automated external defibrillator on the premises. This bill would require the person or entity responsible for managing the building, facility, and tenants of the above-referenced occupied structures, including those that are owned or operated by a local government entity, and that are constructed on or after January 1, 2020, to comply with certain requirements, including acquiring and placing a trauma kit on the premises, periodically inspecting and replacing the contents of a trauma kit, restocking the trauma kit after each use, and notifying tenants of the building or structure of the location of the trauma kit. The bill would exempt a person or entity from liability for civil damages resulting from any acts or omissions in the rendering of emergency care if those requirements have been met.