Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BOB ANDRZEJCZAK
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblywoman NANCY J. PINKIN
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Diegnan, Giblin and Assemblywoman Jasey
SYNOPSIS
Requires local recreation departments, youth serving organizations, and camps to have defibrillators for youth athletic events, and public schools to train pupils in defibrillator use and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning automated external defibrillators and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes and Titles 5 and 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, beginning on September 1, 2014, the board of education of a public school district that includes any of the grades 6 through 12 shall:
a. provide instruction in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation as part of the curriculum each year for grades 6 through 12; and
b. provide instruction in the use of an automated external defibrillator as part of the curriculum each year for grades 9 through 12.
2. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, and in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement section 1 of this act.
3. a. Beginning September 1, 2014, a municipal or county recreation department and a nonprofit youth serving organization as defined in section 1 of P.L.1999, c.432 (C.15A:3A-1) including, but not limited to, Little Leagues, Babe Ruth Leagues, Pop Warner Leagues, Police Athletic Leagues, and youth soccer leagues, which organizes, sponsors, or is otherwise affiliated with youth athletic events that are played on municipal, county, school, or other publicly-owned fields, shall ensure that there is available on site an automated external defibrillator, as defined in section 2 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-24), at each youth athletic event and practice held on the department’s or organization’s home field.
The recreation department or youth serving organization shall designate one or more umpires or coaches, as applicable, who will be present at the athletic event or practice, to be responsible for ensuring that the defibrillator is available on site at the event and practice. The designated umpire or coach shall be trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of the defibrillator in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-25).
b. A recreation department or youth serving organization shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section if a State-certified emergency services provider or other certified first responder is on site at the athletic event or practice and has a defibrillator available for use on site.
c. A recreation department or youth serving organization and its employees and volunteer umpires and coaches shall be immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of a defibrillator pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-27).
4. a. Beginning September 1, 2014, a youth camp operating pursuant to P.L.1973, c.375 (C.26:12-1 et seq.) shall ensure that there is available on site an automated external defibrillator, as defined in section 2 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-24), within reasonable proximity of the camp’s athletic fields or other indoor or outdoor athletic facilities. For the purposes of this section, “reasonable proximity” means that the automated external defibrillator is able to be retrieved and applied in under three minutes.
The youth camp shall designate one or more counselors or other staff members who will be present at the athletic field or facility when campers are participating in athletic activities, to be responsible for ensuring that the defibrillator is available on site at the field or facility. The designated counselor or staff member shall be trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of the defibrillator in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-25).
b. A youth camp shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section if a State-certified emergency services provider or other certified first responder is on site at the athletic field or facility and has a defibrillator available for use on site.
c. A youth camp and its employees shall be immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of a defibrillator pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-27).
5. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
The bill requires school districts to provide, beginning on September 1, 2014, instruction in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as part of the curriculum each year for grades 6 through 12 and instruction in the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) as part of the curriculum each year for grades 9 through 12.
Beginning on September 1, 2014, the bill requires municipal or county recreation departments and a nonprofit youth serving organizations (such as, Little Leagues, Babe Ruth Leagues, Pop Warner Leagues, Police Athletic Leagues, and youth soccer leagues), which organize, sponsor, or are otherwise affiliated with youth athletic events that are played on municipal, county, school, or other publicly-owned fields, to ensure that there is available on site an AED at each youth athletic event and practice held on the department’s or organization’s home field. The department or organization must designate one or more umpires or coaches who will be present at the athletic event or practice, to be responsible for ensuring that the AED is available on site. The designated umpire or coach is required to be trained in CPR and the use of an AED in accordance with law.
Also, beginning September 1, 2014, a youth camp is required to ensure that there is available on site an AED within reasonable proximity of the camp’s athletic fields or other indoor or outdoor athletic facilities. “Reasonable proximity” means that the AED is able to be retrieved and applied within three minutes. The youth camp must designate one or more counselors or other staff members who will be present at the athletic field or facility when campers are participating in athletic activities, to be responsible for ensuring that the AED is available on site at the field or facility. The designated counselor or staff member is required to be trained in CPR and the use of an AED in accordance with law.
A recreation department, youth serving organization, or youth camp will be deemed to be in compliance with the AED requirement if a State-certified emergency services provider or other certified first responder is on site at the athletic event or practice and has an AED available for use on site. A recreation department, youth serving organization, youth camp and its employees and volunteers will be immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of an AED.