Nevada committee hears ‘Smart Heart’ bill to require CPR training, cardiac emergency plans in schools

Assembly Bill 454, the "Smart Heart" bill, was presented Wednesday to the Nevada Assembly Committee on Education, proposing mandatory certified CPR training for coaches and other adults employed by schools involved in athletic activities and requiring school emergency action plans to address heart-related emergencies.

The bill’s sponsor, Assemblymember Hanadi Nadim, said the measure expands current requirements and extends them to private high schools. "This bill seeks to improve survival outcomes during cardiac emergencies, reinforcing Nevada's commitment to the health and safety of its students," Nadim said.

Nut graf: Supporters told the committee that while sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes is rare, rapid CPR and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) dramatically increase survival. Medical witnesses and family members urged lawmakers to adopt the bill to standardize training and emergency planning across public and private schools.

Dr. Alfred Daniellian, a sports cardiologist with Las Vegas Heart Associates, described sudden cardiac arrest and the medical urgency of early intervention. "Without CPR and use of an AED, chance of survival drops 7 to 10 percent for every minute that passes," Daniellian said, adding that immediate CPR and AED use can triple a victim’s chance of survival.

Several school and medical organizations testified in support. Brad Keating, representing the Clark County School District, said CCSD already does much of the work envisioned by the bill and that the district supports aligning the language with sponsor intent. Nicole Flangas of the Nevada Association of School Boards said the association supported the bill "as long as that intent is specified" to match existing district practices and certifications.

Other supporters included the Nevada chapter of the American College of Cardiology, medical students, clinicians, and family members of student-athletes who died from cardiac events. Sebastian Rios, a high school senior who serves as a youth legislator, described the bill as a way to encourage safe participation in athletics for students statewide. Entrada Hughes, the mother of Ashari Hughes, recounted her daughter's collapse during a flag football game and urged passage of the measure so other families would not endure the same loss.

Committee members asked for clarifications about the bill’s scope. Assemblymember Leah Cartwright said she was concerned the phrase "other adult associated with the school athletic activity" could be read too broadly; sponsors responded the intent is to capture school employees (coaches, trainers, managers) rather than volunteers or parents, and said they would circulate clarifying amendments before the Thursday deadline.

The bill’s amended language also amends provisions of Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) cited in the bill file to require the development of heart-related emergency plans by school emergency operations planning committees. Supporters noted large school districts already have emergency action plans and, in some cases, AEDs in place; the bill aims to close gaps in smaller districts and private schools.

The committee did not take a final vote on AB454 during the hearing. Sponsor closing remarks reiterated the bill’s goal to ensure trained personnel and protocols are in place: "Assembly Bill 454 aims to standardize and elevate emergency response capabilities within school athletic environment by requiring regular certified CPR training for all individuals involved in school athletics activities and by ensuring that cardiac emergency response protocol is in place," Nadim said.

The committee moved on to other items after concluding the hearing; no committee-level enactment or referral was recorded on the transcript provided.

Ending: The committee left the record open for written testimony and amendments. Sponsors said they would provide tightened language clarifying which adults are required to hold certification and will circulate those changes to committee members before the next deadline.