BILL NUMBER: S6127A
SPONSOR: WEIK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring CPR certi-
fied cafeteria monitors to be present in school cafeterias during lunch-
times
 
PURPOSE:
To require CPR certified cafeteria monitors to be present in school
cafeterias during lunchtimes.
 
SUMMARY:
Section 1 - States the title.
Section 2 - Amends the education law by adding a new section 3001-e.
Section 3 - Directs the State Education Department to prepare and
distribute the Department of Health's "First Aid for Choking" posters,
as well as require that the posters be displayed in areas where food is
consumed and served.
Section 4 - Sets the effective date and authorizes any necessary rule-
making before implementation.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York does not currently require cafeteria monitors to be certified
in First Aid, CPR, and the Heimlich. Stella's Law corrects this over-
sight.
This Act is named in honor of Stella Tsimis who, in February 2023, saved
the life of a seven-year-old boy in the school cafeteria by performing
the Heimlich maneuver on him while he was choking. Stella received the
New York State Liberty Medal for saving the child's life that day. The
Liberty Medal is the highest civilian honor someone can receive from New
York State and is only awarded for extraordinary, heroic and life-saving
acts.
Stella's actions on that day highlighted the need for all adult cafete-
ria monitors present in school cafeterias to be trained in and hold
current certifications for First Aid, CPR, and the Heimlich maneuver to
help ensure the safety of the children in the cafeteria. Requiring the
display of the "First Aid for Choking" poster in all school eating areas
further supports this goal by providing clear, life-saving instructions
that can be followed in an emergency.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Unknown.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addi-
tion, amendment, or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for
implementation is authorized to be made and completed on or before such
date.