Provides basic CPR training in secondary school health education curricula; requires the regents to consider the inclusion of CPR instruction as part of the standards for inclusion in curriculum guidance.
BILL NUMBER: S532
TITLE OF BILL : An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the inclusion of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in secondary school health education curricula
PURPOSE : This bill requires training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) be given as a part of the high school health curriculum.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS : Section 1: Section 804-c of the Education Law, as added by chapter 269 of the laws of 1999. Subdivision (l) states that instructions regarding training in CPR shall be offered as a part of the secondary school health curriculum. In addition to the requirement that all teachers of health education be certified to teach health, any person instructing pupils in CPR must possess a valid certification by an agency offering such a certification within this area. To effectuate these requirements, schools shall be eligible for funding through the boards of cooperative educational services. Off-site training in CPR that is approved by a nationally-recognized organization may fulfill the requirements of this section.
Subdivision (2) states that the commissioner may prescribe regulations governing such health education courses which shall include instruction in CPR and shall provide for a three year phase-in schedule of duties created by this article.
Subdivision (3) states that school authorities or off-site entities providing such a course must provide the needed facilities, time and place for the instruction and training, and shall provide learning aids and curriculum resource materials to support the course of study.
Subdivision (4) As part of the NYS learning standards review initiative the regents should consider the inclusion of CPR as part of the standards for inclusion in curriculum guidance.
Section 2: Effective Date.
EXISTING LAW : Currently, CPR may be offered as a voluntary addition to the health curriculum.
JUSTIFICATION : Due to the increased percentages of people diagnosed with heart disease each year, CPR instruction can provide students with the knowledge necessary to save lives. This bill will require secondary schools to provide CPR instruction. This bill will also ensure that such instructions are properly given and that all lessons meet the established standards of professional organizations such as the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. Furthermore, this legislation ensures that schools have the necessary resources to execute the above requirements.
This bill will not require high school students to become certified in CPR, but simply give them the necessary training. By requiring schools to offer CPR training as part of a student's health education curriculum, this bill will increase awareness of important life saving techniques.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY : 2008 - Passed Senate
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS : To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 532 2009-2010 Regular Sessions IN SENATE (PREFILED) January 7, 2009 ___________Introduced by Sen. ALESI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the inclu- sion of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in secondary school health education curricula THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Section 804-c of the education law, as added by chapter 269 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows: S 804-c. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction. 1. Instructions regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be offered for voluntary admission as a part of the SECONDARY SCHOOL health education curriculum
[in all senior high schools]. In addition to the requirement that all teachers of health education shall be certified to teach health, persons instructing pupils in cardiopulmonary resuscitation shall possess valid certification by an agency offering such certification in the perform- ance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and in its instruction. 2. The commissioner may prescribe regulations governing such health education courses which shall include instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Such regulations shall in no event prescribe a course of study in cardiopulmonary resuscitation which sets forth standards for instruction of a lesser quality than the requirements of the programs adopted by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. 3. School authorities [that choose to offer such course]OR OFF-SITE ENTITIES PROVIDING SUCH COURSE shall provide the needed facilities, time and place for the instruction set forth herein and shall provide learn- ing aids and curriculum resource materials to support such course of study. 4. AS PART OF THE NEW YORK STATE LEARNING STANDARDS REVIEW INITIATIVE REGARDING HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES THE REGENTS SHALL CONSIDER THE INCLUSION OF CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCI- TATION AS PART OF THE STANDARDS FOR INCLUSION IN CURRICULUM GUIDANCE. S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01750-01-9