HB 5394

Abstract

Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, a school district shall develop a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while at a school or at a school-sponsored activity or event. Provides that a principal or other person having administrative control over the school must ensure that the plan is (1) available to the school community on the school's Internet website and in a paper form at various locations at the school, and (2) distributed to all coaches and other athletic staff members at each school, all persons responsible for executing the plan in the event of a cardiac emergency, all healthcare professionals that provide medical services during a school-sponsored activity or event, and to other appropriate school staff, as determined by the principal or other person having administrative control over the school. Specifies what a cardiac emergency response plan shall include. Provides that a school district shall provide all members of a cardiac emergency response team with the training necessary to implement a cardiac emergency response plan. Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act to make related changes. Effective July 1, 2024. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 128/5 105 ILCS 128/15 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 128/25 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that no later than 30 days after the first day of each school year, the school board of each public elementary and secondary school in the State shall provide all teachers, administrators, and other school personnel, as determined by school officials, with information regarding emergency procedures and techniques, including, without limitation, the Heimlich maneuver, hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and use of the school district's automated external defibrillator, and identify the cardiac emergency response team (instead of providing that the school board of each public elementary and secondary school in the State shall encourage all teachers and other school personnel to acquire, develop, and maintain the knowledge and skills necessary to properly administer life-saving techniques, including, without limitation, the Heimlich maneuver and rescue breathing). Makes related changes. Provides that the annual review shall include reviewing procedures regarding the school district's cardiac emergency response plan. Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Provides that school districts and private schools shall develop a cardiac emergency response plan in place in accordance with guidelines set forth by either the American Heart Association or other nationally recognized, evidence-based standards that addresses the appropriate response to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while at a school or at a school-sponsored activity or event. Requires the plan to be distributed to all teachers, administrators, school support personnel, coaches, and other school staff identified by school administrators at each school. Sets forth what shall be included in the cardiac emergency response plan. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Changes references from "automatic external defibrillator" to "automated external defibrillator". Removes the requirement that a school board identify the cardiac emergency response team.