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Senate rejects bill to add cardiac-arrest training mandate for coaches and student athletes
Summary
Senate Bill 2099, which would have added requirements in the North Dakota Century Code for cardiac-arrest prevention education for student athletes and coaches, failed on a 14-33 vote after the Senate Education Committee recommended a "do not pass."
The North Dakota Senate rejected Senate Bill 2099, which would have added cardiac-arrest prevention and education requirements for student athletes and coaches, by a vote of 14-33.
The Senate Education Committee recommended a “do not pass” on the bill by a 4-2 vote, saying the measure would place an unnecessary mandate in the North Dakota Century Code and could duplicate existing CPR and first-aid training. The committee report noted concerns about accuracy of symptoms listed in the bill, which agency should administer the program and potential costs and liabilities for small public and nonpublic schools.
"While the committee supports the concept of raising awareness and providing education regarding cardiac symptoms and warning signs, particularly as it relates to student athletes, we didn't feel that this particular legislation and the requirements on coaches, the Department of Public Instruction, and school districts, both public and nonpublic, is warranted in century code," said the Senate Education Committee during its report to the floor.
The committee reported that the Department of Public Instruction opposed the bill, stating DPI does not consider itself the appropriate agency to lead a health initiative requiring medical expertise. The committee recommended collaboration with DPI, the Department of Health, and the North Dakota High School Activities Association instead of enshrining the mandate in statute.
Senator Matt Matherne (Senator Matherne) spoke in favor of the bill on the floor, citing national statistics and arguing that training could help coaches recognize when to remove an athlete and use life-saving equipment. "If we don't have people trained to use [an automated external defibrillator], we don't save lives," he said.
The bill's sponsor and the young person who brought the measure were referenced by supporters on the floor, but the transcript did not identify that individual by name for attribution.
Final tally on Senate Bill 2099: 14 ayes, 33 nays, 0 absent/not voting. The bill failed.
