Florida Senate - 2024 SB 432



By Senator Simon





3-00857-24 2024432__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to cardiac and medical emergencies on
3 school grounds; providing a short title; creating s.
4 1003.457, F.S.; requiring each public school to have
5 at least one automated external defibrillator on
6 school grounds; providing requirements for such
7 defibrillators; encouraging public schools to have a
8 sufficient number of defibrillators on school grounds,
9 as determined by the Department of Education, to allow
10 a person to retrieve one within a specified timeframe;
11 encouraging each public school to establish public and
12 private partnerships and seek gifts, grants, and other
13 donations for specified purposes; encouraging each
14 charter school and private school to have at least one
15 defibrillator on school grounds and to comply with
16 specified requirements; authorizing such schools to
17 utilize specified state contracts; requiring such
18 schools to be provided with certain protocols and
19 plans; providing immunity from liability for school
20 employees and students under the Good Samaritan Act
21 and the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act; requiring the
22 Department of Education to enter into statewide
23 contracts for specified purposes; requiring the
24 Commissioner of Education, at his or her sole
25 discretion, to create and disseminate specified
26 protocols and plans relating to the use of
27 defibrillators in schools; requiring the State Board
28 of Education to adopt rules; providing an effective
29 date.
30
31 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
32
33 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “HeartCharged Act.”
34 Section 2. Section 1003.457, Florida Statutes, is created
35 to read:
36 1003.457 Automated external defibrillators on school
37 grounds.—
38 (1)(a) In addition to the requirements of s. 1006.165, each
39 public school must have at least one operational automated
40 external defibrillator on school grounds. Each defibrillator
41 must be stored in a location that is easily accessible to anyone
42 at any time during the school day and any other time students
43 are on school grounds, including outside of the school year.
44 Such defibrillator may not be placed in the school’s athletic
45 facilities. Each defibrillator must have appropriate
46 accompanying signage, including, but not limited to, signage at
47 the defibrillator’s exact location directing responders to the
48 building or room where the defibrillator is routinely kept. Each
49 defibrillator and all of its components must be maintained
50 according to the manufacturer’s instructions and kept in proper
51 working order. Each school is encouraged to have or work towards
52 acquiring and placing a sufficient number of defibrillators on
53 school grounds, as determined by the Department of Education, to
54 allow a person to retrieve a defibrillator within 3 minutes
55 after a cardiac or medical emergency in which the use of a
56 defibrillator is needed anywhere on school grounds. Each school
57 is encouraged to establish public and private partnerships and
58 seek grants, gifts, and other donations to cover the costs
59 associated with the purchase, placement, and training in the use
60 of a defibrillator.
61 (b) Each charter school and private school is encouraged to
62 have at least one operational defibrillator on school grounds
63 and to meet the requirements of paragraph (a). A charter or
64 private school that elects to comply with this section may
65 utilize the statewide contracts under subsection (3) and will be
66 provided with all protocols for the deployment and
67 administration of defibrillators in schools, as disseminated
68 pursuant to subsection (4).
69 (2) The use of defibrillators or cardiopulmonary
70 resuscitation are immune from civil liability, pursuant to ss.
71 768.13 and 768.1325, also known as the Good Samaritan Act and
72 the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act, respectively.
73 (3) The Department of Education shall enter into statewide
74 contracts for defibrillators, pursuant to the updated
75 technologies and conveniences of available defibrillators on the
76 market, to provide statewide discounts to schools and school
77 districts.
78 (4) The Commissioner of Education, at his or her sole
79 discretion, shall create and disseminate all of the following:
80 (a) The protocols for the deployment and administration of
81 defibrillators in schools.
82 (b) A comprehensive emergency action plan for the use of a
83 defibrillator.
84 (c) An education plan, which must include annual training
85 for school employees and students in the use of a defibrillator.
86 (5) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
87 administer this section, including those necessary for the
88 protocols and plans created and disseminated under subsection
89 (4).
90 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.