In the near future, I will be reintroducing legislation that would require all coaches of athletic teams and supervisors of all afterschool activities to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and trained in the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). This bill was introduced as Senate Bill 513 in the 2023-24 legislative session and had 12 bipartisan cosponsors. 

My bill would amend Section 1425 of the Public School Code to require that any coach of an athletic activity to become certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and in the use of an AED. Under this legislation, all coaches would be required to renew their certifications every two years through the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or through an equivalent course of instruction approved by the Department of Health. My bill would also require the same certification and renewal for all supervisors of afterschool activities, clubs, and school-sponsored events.

Since 2012, all coaches have been required to complete an annual training course on sudden cardiac arrest. And while that law was updated with Act 73 of 2020 to add requirements for electrocardiogram information and testing to be provided to student athletes and their parents, we must require CPR certification for all of those individuals responsible for our students at school-sanctioned activities such as sporting events, performances, or afterschool clubs.

Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation to protect our students from sudden cardiac arrest.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0630: P.L.30, No.14