Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 897	House Author:  Zerwas et al.
Effective:  6-14-13	Senate Sponsor:  Hinojosa

            House Bill 897 amends the Education Code to remove provisions requiring the State Board of Education (SBOE) by rule to include instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) as part of the essential knowledge and skills of the required health curriculum. The bill instead requires the SBOE by rule to require CPR instruction for students in grades 7 through 12;  requires a school district and open-enrollment charter school to provide CPR instruction to students in those grades in a manner consistent with law and SBOE rules, which may be provided as part of any course; and requires a student to receive this instruction at least once before graduation.

House Bill 897 authorizes a school administrator to waive the CPR curriculum requirement for an eligible student who has a disability and authorizes a school district or an open-enrollment charter school to use emergency medical technicians, paramedics, police officers, firefighters, representatives of the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross, teachers, other school employees, or other similarly qualified individuals to provide CPR instruction and training.