The bill amends Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws, titled "Health and Safety of Pupils," by introducing a new section, 16-21-43, which mandates that at least eighty percent (80%) of teachers in each school district must be trained in the Basic Emergency and Response Skills (BEARS) curriculum. This training includes essential skills such as hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the Heimlich maneuver, and bleeding control, and must be completed within the last three (3) years. The implementation of this training will occur over a three-year period, requiring one-third (1/3) of all teachers to complete the BEARS training each year until the target percentage is met by the end of the 2027-2028 school year. Additionally, the curriculum will incorporate safety training related to SARS-COV-2 starting in the 2025-2026 school year.

The bill also stipulates that time spent on BEARS training will count towards teachers' professional development requirements. The Department of Education is tasked with verifying compliance, while individual school districts retain the autonomy to determine how the curriculum is implemented. Furthermore, teachers who complete the training and provide emergency care will be granted immunity from civil damages for injuries resulting from their actions, except in cases of gross, willful, or wanton negligence. Each school district is required to allocate funding for the training of faculty members from unallocated fiscal year funds. The act will take effect upon passage.