This bill establishes a competitive grant program within the Iowa Department of Education aimed at developing and implementing school health-related emergency response plans, specifically focusing on cardiac emergencies. It amends existing law to require schools to comply with the requirements of section 280.16B, which includes the creation of a cardiac emergency response plan that outlines specific steps for responding to cardiac arrest incidents. The bill defines key terms such as "athletic emergency action plan," "automated external defibrillator," and "cardiac emergency response plan," and specifies the necessary components of these plans, including the establishment of a cardiac emergency response team, placement of automated external defibrillators, ongoing training for staff, and annual drills.

The bill also establishes a fund for the grant program, which will be used to provide financial assistance to schools for the development and implementation of their cardiac emergency response plans. It stipulates that the funds awarded must supplement existing public funding and not replace it. The state board of education is tasked with adopting rules to administer the program, including grant application materials and eligibility criteria. The provisions of this bill will take effect for school years beginning on or after July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256E.7, 280.16B