Committee advances bill requiring CPR/AED certification for coaches and related personnel

Senate Bill 226, sponsored in committee by Senator Ledding, seeks to ensure coaches and personnel involved in school athletics maintain current CPR and AED certification and to align requirements across routes into coaching.

Jason Cates, a licensed athletic trainer who works in Cabot Public Schools, described the bill's origin in earlier legislation and said Arkansas once ranked highly for school athletic-health policies but "we have unfortunately slipped quite a bit." He and Senator Ledding said the bill would restore consistent coverage across traditional and nontraditional teacher-coaches, volunteers, and others who work in an athletic setting.

A committee witness explained that school districts provide CPR/AED training at no cost and that the certification is typically required every three years. Committee members asked whether the requirement would create barriers for volunteers; witnesses and sponsor said districts generally absorb training costs and that the law's intent is to ensure safety on campuses where emergency medical services may take several minutes to arrive.

Senators also asked whether the bill applies to higher education (it does not; the sponsor said higher-education athletics are covered by separate rules) and how it relates to prior 'Coach Safety' legislation. The sponsor said staff are reviewing how to align exemptions and requirements across existing statutes and association policies.

The committee moved SB 226 forward on a voice vote; an "Aye" was recorded on the motion. The transcript shows no opposition testimony recorded during the hearing.