General Assembly Committee Bill No. 524, introduced in the January Session of 2023, proposes the establishment of a working group to study methods of cardiac screening for first responders. The purpose of this working group is to evaluate and advise the Department of Public Health on how to effectively screen first responders for early detection of cardiac issues. The bill specifies that the working group should include a range of members such as cardiologists with relevant research experience, representatives from various first responder associations, and officials from the Department of Public Health and the Office of Emergency Medical Services, among others.

The bill mandates that by January 1, 2024, the Commissioner of Public Health must report the findings and recommendations of the working group to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly that oversees public health matters. The bill is effective upon passage and introduces a new section to the statutes. The statement of purpose clearly states the goal of the bill is to explore cardiac screening methods for first responders to identify cardiac issues at an early stage. The bill has multiple co-sponsors, including senators and representatives from various districts. There are no deletions indicated in the provided text, only insertions which include the bill number, the establishment of the working group, and the reporting requirement.