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.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would require all middle schools and high schools in Rhode Island — both public and private — to have a working Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on school grounds at all times. An AED is a portable medical device that can deliver an electric shock to restart a heart during cardiac arrest. Currently, this requirement may not apply equally to all schools, and this bill aims to close that gap.

In addition to having an AED on site, the bill would also require these schools to create and follow a formal cardiac emergency response plan. This means schools would need to have a clear set of procedures in place for how staff should respond if a student, teacher, or visitor experiences a sudden cardiac emergency on school grounds. The goal is to make sure that when a heart-related emergency happens, trained staff know exactly what to do and the right equipment is immediately available.

This bill affects administrators, staff, and students at all middle schools and high schools across Rhode Island, including private schools that may not have previously been covered by similar rules. Schools that don't already have AEDs would need to obtain them, and all covered schools would need to develop and put their emergency response plans into action. As of now, the bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee and is being held for further study, meaning it has not yet been passed into law.