CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Section 160.482)

For the 2025-26 school year and all subsequent school years, this act requires every public school to develop and implement a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on a school campus. A public school with an athletic department or organized athletic program shall also develop and implement a plan specific to life-threatening emergencies that may occur at an extracurricular event or school-sponsored event on campus.

Members of each public school's administration shall coordinate with local emergency services providers to integrate the public school's cardiac emergency response plan into the local emergency services providers' protocols. A cardiac emergency response plan shall integrate evidence-based core elements, such as those recommended by the American Heart Association guidelines, Project ADAM, or another set of nationally recognized, evidence-based standard or core elements.

The act outlines certain guidelines that a cardiac emergency response plan shall integrate, including the establishment of a cardiac emergency response team and the placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) throughout the school campus. Appropriate AED placement shall be dictated by the cardiac emergency response plan and in accordance with guidelines set by the American Heart Association, Project ADAM, or another set of nationally recognized, evidence-based standard or core elements.

Appropriate school personnel shall be trained in first

aid, CPR, and AED use following evidence-based guidelines set

forth by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Project ADAM, or another set of nationally recognized, evidence-based standard or core elements. The school personnel required to be trained shall be determined by the cardiac emergency response plan and shall include, but not be limited to, athletics coaches, school nurses, and athletic trainers.

This act is identical to SCS/SBs 1032 & 1081 (2024).

ELIJAH'S LAW (Section 210.225)

The act establishes "Elijah's Law" and requires all licensed child care providers to adopt a policy on allergy prevention and response that prioritizes addressing deadly food-borne allergies. The act describes the elements to be included in such a policy, including, but not limited to, distinguishing between different approaches to allergy prevention and management; describing the roles of child care facility staff members, children, and parents in helping to mitigate allergies; and coordinating with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and local health authorities.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall develop a model policy or policies on allergy prevention and response before July 1, 2025. All licensed child care providers shall adopt an allergy prevention and response policy before July 1, 2026.

This provision is identical to provisions in HB 2036 (2024) and in HCS/HB 2552 (2024) and is substantially similar to a provision in HB 2364 (2024).

OLIVIA SHANNON