Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Senator PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires institution of higher education to have automatic external defibrillator on premises of each athletic facility and student center.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning automatic external defibrillators and supplementing chapter 3B of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, an institution of higher education shall place an automated external defibrillator, as defined in section 2 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-24), in an unlocked location in each athletic facility and student center with an appropriate identifying sign. The defibrillator shall be accessible during the normal operating hours of the athletic facility or student center and within reasonable proximity of the institution’s athletic fields.
b. The institution of higher education shall ensure that:
(1) at least two staff members who are trained in cardiopulmonary 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), are in the athletic facility or student center during the normal operating hours; and
(2) each defibrillator is tested and maintained according to the manufacturer’s operational guidelines, and notification is provided to the appropriate first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad, or other appropriate emergency medical services provider regarding the defibrillator, the type acquired, and its location in accordance with section 3 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-25).
c. An institution of higher education and its staff shall, pursuant to the provisions of section 5 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-27), be immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of a defibrillator pursuant to this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires an institution of higher education to place an automated external defibrillator in an unlocked location in each athletic facility and student center with an appropriate identifying sign. The defibrillator will be accessible during the normal operating hours of the athletic facility or student center and within reasonable proximity of the institution’s athletic fields.
Under the bill, the institution is required to ensure that:
(1) at least two staff members who are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of the defibrillator are in the athletic facility or student center during the normal operating hours; and
(2) each defibrillator is tested and maintained according to the manufacturer’s operational guidelines, and notification is provided to the appropriate first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad, or other appropriate emergency medical services provider regarding the defibrillator, the type acquired, and its location.
An institution of higher education and its staff are granted immunity from civil liability in the acquisition and use of a defibrillator.