BILL ANALYSIS
By: Vo
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen to anyone at any time-without warning, and school-aged children are not immune. It is estimated 5,000-7,000 children die from SCA each year without exhibiting prior symptoms. Many of these deaths occur at school and related sporting events. The current national survival rate for SCA is less than five percent. The likelihood of successful resuscitation decreases by about 10% with every minute that passes. The purpose of this bill is to provide defibrillators at school events. By having access to defibrillators children will have a chance to be resuscitated in a timely manner. Defibrillators are currently available in the State Capitol, and at the Texas Youth Commission facilities for incarcerated children but very few schools in Texas are equipped with the life saving devices.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
CSHB 1406 amends the Education Code by adding language requiring each school district to make available at each campus in the district and each University Interscholastic League competition held in the district an automated external defibrillator. Each district shall ensure the presence at each location, as described by this legislation, of at least one campus or district employee trained in the proper use of the defibrillator. A school district may seek and accept gifts, grants or donations to pay the district's cost of purchasing a defibrillator. This section does not apply to an athletic competition at which emergency personnel are present under a contract with the school district.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Act applies beginning with the 2007 - 2008 school year.
This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
CSHB 1406 changes language that each school district is to make available at each campus in the district an automated defibrillator. The substitute also changes language that each school district is to ensure the presence at each location of at least one campus or district employee trained in the proper use of the defibrillator. Language has been created that school districts may seek and accept gifts in order to pay for the costs of purchasing a defibrillator. The substitute also creates language that this section does not apply to an athletic competition at which emergency services personnel are present under a contract with the school district.