House Bill 869 seeks to enhance the safety of youth athletes by establishing a comprehensive framework for cardiac arrest prevention and response in schools. The bill mandates the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop resources on cardiac arrest symptoms and requires all school districts and nonpublic schools with athletic programs to create a cardiac emergency response plan starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This plan must include training for coaches and staff in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). Coaches are also required to hold informational meetings for students and parents about cardiac arrest risks and must remove any athlete showing symptoms of cardiac distress from participation until they are cleared by a medical professional.

Additionally, the bill allows for the purchase of AEDs as part of school safety expenditures and introduces a reimbursement grant program to assist schools with the costs associated with acquiring and maintaining these devices, with the Office of Public Instruction administering the program. The legislation includes amendments to sections 20-9-236 and 20-9-502 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify funding mechanisms for school safety improvements, ensuring that funds can be allocated for AEDs and related safety measures. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, reflecting a commitment to improving the health and safety of youth athletes through appropriate training and resources.

Statutes affected:
HB0869_1(1): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_1(2): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_1(3): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_1: 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_2(1): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_2(10): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_2(11): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_2(2): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_2(3): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_2(4): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_2(5): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_2(6): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_2(7): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_2(8): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_2(9): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_2: 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_X(1): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_X(10): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_X(2): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_X(3): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_X(4): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_X(5): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_X(6): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_X(7): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_X(8): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_X(9): 20-9-236, 20-9-502
HB0869_X: 20-9-236, 20-9-502