Expands the requirement that all high schools and middle schools, whether they are publicly or privately run to maintain on site a functional AED while establishing and implementing a cardiac emergency response plan in these schools.

# Summary of Rhode Island Bill: AED Requirements in Schools

This bill would expand an existing Rhode Island law that requires schools to have automated external defibrillators (AEDs) — portable devices that can restart a person's heart during a cardiac emergency. Currently, certain schools are already required to keep AEDs on site. This bill would extend that requirement to **all** middle schools and high schools in the state, including both public and private schools.

In addition to having a working AED available on school grounds, each affected school would also be required to create and put into practice a cardiac emergency response plan. This means schools would need to have a clear, organized plan for how staff should respond if a student, employee, or visitor experiences a sudden cardiac event, such as a heart attack or cardiac arrest.

The bill affects students, staff, and visitors at every middle school and high school in Rhode Island, whether the school is publicly funded or privately operated. The goal is to ensure that life-saving equipment and emergency procedures are consistently available across all schools, not just some. Private schools that may not have previously been covered by this requirement would now need to comply as well.

The bill has moved through the legislative process, receiving a recommendation for passage from committee, and has been placed on the House calendar for further consideration.