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Sponsor presses committee to require defibrillators in private fitness facilities; committee advances bill
Summary
A sponsor presented HB 2,379 to require defibrillators in private fitness facilities after a local teenager died; the committee voted 13-3 to advance the bill out of committee.
The committee advanced House Bill 2,379, a bill sponsor described as prompted by the death of a 17-year-old, Zach Durand, who suffered cardiac arrest at a private gym that did not have a defibrillator on site. The sponsor said the bill is intended to require certain private fitness facilities to maintain automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to reduce the risk of preventable deaths during exercise.
The sponsor recounted the incident: “Zach was at a private gym, collapsed. There was no, defibrillator in the private facility, although we do require those in public schools, in public facilities.” The sponsor said the measure is intended to provide a public-safety device in private fitness settings similarly to other safety equipment such as fire extinguishers.
The sponsor acknowledged the bill is not a perfect mechanism but urged the committee to adopt it to protect people who exercise in private facilities. After no recorded debate, the clerk recorded a vote of 13 aye and 3 nay and the chair declared the bill passed out of committee.
