STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOSEPH R. MALONE, III
District 30 (Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Requires the placement of defibrillators in a public school complex.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning the placement of defibrillators in certain public and nonpublic school buildings and supplementing chapter 40 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. As used in this section, "school complex" means a public school building or a group of public school buildings as determined by the board of education of a school district based on the following criteria:
(1) grade levels;
(2) distance between the buildings; and
(3) type of communication system in place.
b. Each school district shall provide and maintain an automated external defibrillator, as defined in section 2 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-24), on-site in each school complex. The district shall ensure that the defibrillator is placed in a central location within the complex. The district shall ensure that the defibrillator equipment is tested and maintained and shall provide notification to the appropriate first aid, ambulance or rescue squad or other appropriate emergency medical services provider of the type and location of the defibrillators in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-25).
c. Each school district shall arrange for training in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator for school nurses and any other staff members that the district may designate. The training shall be in accordance with the provisions of subsection a. of section 3 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-25).
d. Each school district shall ensure the presence of a staff person who is certified in the operation and use of an automated external defibrillator pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-26) for any school-sponsored or school-approved curricular or extra-curricular events or activities which occur at the school complex.
e. A public school district and its employees shall be immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of defibrillators pursuant to the provisions of section 5 of P.L.1999, c.34 (C.2A:62A-27).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires each public school district to provide and maintain on-site at each school complex an automated external defibrillator. Under the bill's provisions, the board of education of the district would determine what constitutes a school complex which could be a single public school building or a group of public school buildings. The district would make its determination based upon the grade levels of the district, distance between buildings, and the type of communication system in place in the district.
The bill also provides that the school district shall arrange for training in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator for school nurses and any other staff members the district may designate. The district must ensure the presence of a staff person who is certified in the operation and use of an automated external defibrillator for any school-sponsored or school approved curricular or extra-curricular event or activity which occurs at the school complex.
Finally, the bill specifies that a public school district and its employees will be immune from civil liability in accordance with current law on the use of defibrillators.