H.B. 852
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Apr 25, 2023
SESSION 2023 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH10420-NHa-144A
Short Title: The Rep. Becky Carney Cardiac Arrest Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Ball.
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE PLACEMENT OF AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL
3 DEFIBRILLATORS (AEDS) IN ALL SCHOOLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL UNITS AND TO
4 PROVIDE TRAINING FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL ON THE USE OF AEDS.
5 Whereas, according to the American Heart Association as of 2017, an individual goes
6 into cardiac arrest in the United States every two minutes. In North Carolina, twenty-three percent
7 (23%) of all deaths are attributed to heart disease, 11,765 of which are as a result of cardiac arrest.
8 Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) is a common rhythm for which cardiopulmonary resuscitation
9 (CPR) and defibrillation are the only effective treatments. For victims with VF, survival rates are
10 highest when immediate bystander CPR is provided and defibrillation occurs within three to five
11 minutes of collapse. With every minute that passes, a victim's survival rate is reduced by seven
12 percent (7%) to ten percent (10%) if no intervention measures are taken. An estimated ninety-five
13 percent (95%) of cardiac arrest victims die before reaching the hospital. If intervention measures
14 are taken, survival rates are much higher; when CPR and defibrillation are immediately
15 performed, survival rates can double; and
16 Whereas, wider use of defibrillators could save as many as 40,000 lives nationally
17 each year. Successful public access defibrillation programs ensure that cardiac arrest victims will
18 have an immediate recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of 911 followed by early CPR
19 with an emphasis on compressions, rapid Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) use, effective
20 advanced care, and coordinated care afterward; and
21 Whereas, the critical importance of having an AED in the building and the quick
22 action of those who are trained to use it was demonstrated in our NC General Assembly building
23 on April 2, 2009. The life of our member, Rep. Becky Carney, was saved because there was
24 access to an AED and there were personnel trained to administer it, following the protocol as
25 described above. Therefore, this act shall be named for her, as The Rep. Becky Carney Cardiac
26 Arrest Act; Now, therefore,
27 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
28 SECTION 1. G.S. 115C-12 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
29 "(49) Duty to Adopt Rules for Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). – The
30 State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the installation, use, and
31 maintenance of AEDs in public school units. At a minimum, the rules shall
32 include provisions for the following:
33 a. Installation and placement of at least two AEDs in each school in a
34 public school unit, with one AED being placed in a location identified
35 by the State Board and one being placed in the school athletic facility
36 or area.
*DRH10420-NHa-144A*
 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023
1 b. Implementation of an appropriate training course for public school
2 personnel in the use of AEDs, including the role of cardiopulmonary
3 resuscitation (CPR) and first aid.
4 c. Proper maintenance and testing of the AEDs.
5 d. Coordination with appropriate licensed professionals in the oversight
6 of training on the AEDs.
7 e. Coordination with local emergency medical systems regarding the
8 placement of AEDs in school buildings."
9 SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
10 "(68) Use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). – Local boards of education
11 shall develop policies for the installation, maintenance, and use of AEDs in
12 accordance with rules developed by the State Board of Education pursuant to
13 G.S. 115C-12(49)."
14 SECTION 2.(b) G.S. 115C-218.75 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
15 "(k) Use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). – Charter schools shall develop
16 policies for the installation, maintenance, and use of AEDs in accordance with rules developed
17 by the State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C-12(49)."
18 SECTION 2.(c) G.S. 115C-238.66 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
19 "(19) Use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). – Regional schools shall
20 develop policies for the installation, maintenance, and use of AEDs in
21 accordance with rules developed by the State Board of Education pursuant to
22 G.S. 115C-12(49)."
23 SECTION 2.(d) G.S. 116-11 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
24 "(15) Use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). – The Board of Governors
25 shall develop policies for all public secondary schools under the Board's
26 jurisdiction for the installation, maintenance, and use of AEDs in accordance
27 with rules developed by the State Board of Education pursuant to
28 G.S. 115C-12(49)."
29 SECTION 3. There is appropriated from the ARPA Temporary Savings Fund to the
30 Department of Public Instruction the sum of nine million two hundred thousand dollars
31 ($9,200,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to be allocated by the
32 Superintendent of Public Instruction on a first-come, first-served basis to governing bodies of
33 public school units in an amount sufficient to purchase and install two AEDs per school and train
34 personnel on the proper use of the AED.
35 SECTION 4. This act becomes effective July 1, 2023.
Page 2 DRH10420-NHa-144A


Statutes affected:
Filed: 115C-12, 115C-47, 115C-218.75, 115C-238.66, 116-11
Edition 1: 115C-12, 115C-47, 115C-218.75, 115C-238.66, 116-11