Bill to expand community CPR training, AED access and registry heard by committee

CARSON CITY — The Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony on Senate Bill 137, a proposal to expand community CPR training, increase access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and allow volunteers certified in CPR to register with a state division to be recognized as trained bystanders.

Soraya Woods, who identified herself as the presenter, opened with national and local survival statistics to explain the bill's purpose. "In Nevada, survival rates for out of hospital cardiac arrests are around 11 percent," Woods said, and she cited lower bystander-CPR rates in Clark County and response-time concerns as justification for broader community training and greater AED access.

Senator Neal, the bill sponsor and co-presenter, clarified committee questions about which state entity would host the registry. Neal said the bill references the Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) and that DPBH representatives indicated they could absorb the registry with no fiscal impact. Neal also said the American Heart Association supports the approach as complementary to existing "heart safe community" work.

A committee member asked about legal protections for bystanders who perform CPR. Neal responded that every state has a bystander-protection law and that good-faith attempts to help are generally protected, saying all 50 states have such laws.

The committee recorded no public testimony in support, opposition or neutral positions in person or by phone. Senator Neal thanked the committee in closing and the hearing was concluded with no motions or votes recorded in the transcript.