November 9, 2023
Nyasha Smith, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Secretary Smith,
Today, I am introducing the Cardiac Planning and Response (“CPR”) Amendment Act of 2023,
along with Councilmembers Brianne K. Nadeau, Charles Allen, Anita Bonds, Janeese Lewis
George, Robert C. White, Jr., Zachary Parker, Matthew Frumin, and Brooke Pinto.
In 2015, I introduced the “Office of Unified Communications Training, CPR, and Modernization
Amendment Act of 2015”. Among other things, this bill required: MPD and FEMS providers to
complete joint training classes with OUC call-takers and dispatchers; OUC to provide continuing
education classes and training including CPR on an annual basis; OUC to implement a
smartphone application to alert and summon citizens trained in CPR while medical services
providers are en route to an emergency event; and OUC and FEMS to conduct a District-wide
CPR training program for District students, employees, and residents.
The Council expanded upon and incorporated this bill in the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Support
Act of 2016. The Public Safety Telecommunicator and District School CPR and Training subtitle
additionally mandated the placement of an AED in every school that would be readily available
for every athletic event; required AED use and CPR training for every athletic coach, trainer, and
school nurse; and mandated public and public charter high schools to provide CPR and AED
training. This law also required schools to establish procedures for responding to cardiac arrest.
The CPR Amendment Act of 2023 would enhance the prior law by requiring schools to develop
an evidence-based cardiac emergency response plan (“CERP”) to respond to incidents involving
an individual experiencing cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school
grounds. It would also require middle and high schools with an athletic department or organized
athletic program to develop a CERP to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing
cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while attending or participating in an
athletic practice or event while on school grounds.
1
There is a national focus on making sure all students and student athletes, in particular, can
receive the same high quality, and immediate lifesaving care that six-time heart attack survivor
and former student athlete Miss District of Columbia Jude Maboné, Damar Hamlin, Bronny
James, Christian Eriksen, and so many others have received. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, roughly 2,000 young, seemingly healthy people under the age of 25 in
the United States die each year of sudden cardiac arrest.
This bill is supported by the American Heart Association, Miss District of Columbia Jude
Maboné, DC Medical Society, and American College of Cardiology.
Please contact my Legislative Director, Doni Crawford, at dcrawford@dccouncil.gov if you have
any questions.
Sincerely,
Kenyan R. McDuffie
2
 1 ___________________________ ______________________________
2 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie
3
4
5 ___________________________ ______________________________
6 Councilmember Anita Bonds Councilmember Charles Allen
7
8
9 ___________________________ ______________________________
10 Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George
11
12
13 ___________________________ _______________________________
14 Councilmember Matthew Frumin Councilmember Zachary Parker
15
16
17 ______________________________
18 Councilmember Brooke Pinto
19
20
21
22 A BILL
23
24 _________
25
26
27 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
28
29 __________________
30
31
32 To amend the Public Access to Automated External Defibrillator Act of 2000 to define the term
33 cardiac emergency response plan, and to establish cardiac emergency response plans.
34
35 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
36 act may be cited as the “Cardiac Planning and Response (“CPR”) Amendment Act of 2023”.
37 Sec. 2. The Public Access to Automated External Defibrillator Act of 2000, effective
38 April 27, 2001 (D.C. Law 13-278; D.C. Official Code § 7-2371.01 et seq.), is amended as
39 follows:
40 (a) Section 2 (D.C. Official Code § 7-2371.01) is amended as follows:
1
41 (1) A new paragraph (1A) is added to read as follows:
42 “(1A) “Cardiac Emergency Response Plan” or “CERP” means a written document
43 that establishes the specific steps to be taken to reduce death from cardiac arrest in any setting,
44 be it a school, community organization, workplace, or sports facility.
45 (b) New section 3d is added to read as follows:
46 “Sec. 3d. Establishment of Cardiac Emergency Response Plans.
47 (a) Beginning in the 2024−2025 school year, each school shall develop a cardiac
48 emergency response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to
49 incidents involving an individual experiencing cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening
50 emergency while on school grounds.
51 (b) Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, each middle and high school with an athletic
52 department or organized athletic program shall develop a cardiac emergency response plan that
53 addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual
54 experiencing cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while attending or
55 participating in an athletic practice or event while on school grounds.
56 (c) School officials shall work directly with local emergency service providers to
57 integrate the CERP into the community’s emergency medical services responder protocols. Each
58 plan shall integrate evidence-based core elements, such as those recommended by the American
59 Heart Association, American Red Cross, or another nationally recognized, evidence-based
60 standard/core elements.
61 (d) The CERP shall integrate, at a minimum, the following guidelines:
62 (1) Establishing a cardiac emergency response team
63 (2) Activating the team in response to a cardiac arrest
2
64 (3) Implementing AED placement and routine maintenance within the school
65 (4) Disseminating the plan throughout the school campus
66 (5) Maintaining ongoing staff training in CPR and AED use
67 (6) Practicing cardiac emergency response protocols through the use of drills
68 (7) Integrating local emergency medical services with the plan
69 (8) Ongoing and annual review and evaluation of the plan
70 (e) Appropriate AED placement shall be dictated by the CERP and in accordance with
71 guidelines set by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or another nationally
72 recognized, evidence-based standard.
73 (f) Appropriate school staff shall be trained in first-aid, CPR, and AED use that follow
74 evidence-based guidelines set forth by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or
75 another nationally recognized, evidence-based standard. Staff trained shall be determined by the
76 CERP, including but not limited to licensed coaches, school nurses, and athletic trainers.
77 (g) The Mayor may establish a procedure for monitoring school adherence to the
78 requirements set forth in subdivision of this section.
79 Sec 3. Fiscal impact statement.
80 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal
81 impact statement required by 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved
82 October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).
83 Sec. 4. Effective date.
84 This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the
85 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of Congressional review as
86 provided in sections 602(c)(1) of the district of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December
3
87 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the district of
88 Columbia Register.
4