SRC-MKV H.B. 821 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 821 77R9779 CAS-FBy: Giddings (Bivins) Education 5/8/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE The American Heart Association estimates that each day more than 95 percent of Americans who suffer sudden cardiac arrest die before reaching the hospital. Additionally, at least 50,000 lives could be saved each year if the national sudden cardiac arrest survival rate could be increased from five percent to 20 percent or higher. One course of action that might increase survival rates is the chain of survival, a four-step process of providing treatment to victims of sudden cardiac arrest which includes administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). More lives could potentially be saved if more people were skilled in CPR. H.B. 821 requires a school district to offer a CPR course to students at or above the ninth grade level. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 7B, Education Code, by adding Section 7.025, as follows: Sec. 7.025. ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER ENTITIES CONCERNING CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION INSTRUCTION. Requires the Texas Education Agency (agency), through regional education service centers, to provide assistance in implementing the cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction required under Section 28.002(a)(2)(B) to school districts and to any entity collaborating with school districts in providing that instruction. SECTION 2. Amends Section 28.002(a), Education Code, to add language requiring each school district that offers kindergarten through grade 12 to offer, as a required curriculum, health, with specific instruction in the principles and techniques of cardiopulmonary resuscitation given at least once at the ninth grade level or above. SECTION 3. Provides that Section 28.002(a)(2)(B), Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies beginning with the 2001-2002 school year. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.