BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                          S.B. 25

80R681 SLO-D                                                                                                                By: Nelson

                                                                                                                                            Education

                                                                                                                                            2/23/2007

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Automated external defibrillators (AED) are a computerized medical device that can check a person's heart rhythm and recognize whether the rhythm, or lack of one, requires an electric shock in the case of a heart failure. While AEDs have become more prevalent at many public venues, including school competitions, young athletes continue to die yearly from cardiac arrest that could have been prevented through the use of an AED. Currently, AEDs may be acquired by schools, but there is no mandate for their acquisition.

 

As proposed, S.B. 25 mandates that each school district's high school athletic department provide access to an AED at each athletic practice or competition, and authorizes the school district to acquire AEDs through federal or private funding.

 

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 Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, by adding Section 33.087, as follows:

 

Sec. 33.087. AVAILABILITY OF AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR. Requires each school district to make an automated external defibrillator readily available to each high school athletic department and at each athletic practice or competition. Requires a district to acquire this automated external defibrillator from federal funding or a private donation.

 

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective to the 2007-2008 school year.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.