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Committee adopts amendment to expand AED grant access and refers AED bill to floor
Summary
Senate Bill 375 requiring AEDs at interscholastic events and training for school staff was amended to allow school-safety funds to grant AED training and discounts to nonpublic schools; the amendment passed unanimously and the bill was referred to the House floor after final passage in committee.
The House Education Committee adopted amendment A02437 to Senate Bill 375, which establishes requirements for automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at interscholastic events and provides training for school employees.
Kate, the committee clerk, described the amendment as directing the school safety and security committee to use unencumbered money from the school safety fund to provide grants to nonpublic schools for AED training and removing a prior 5% dedication requirement. Committee leaders framed the change as using an existing pot of money rather than imposing a new unfunded mandate.
Representative Anderson and other members noted many schools already have AEDs and carry them to athletic events; some expressed concern that added training requirements could impose burdens on teachers. Chair Schweier said he supported the negotiated amendment and asked for an affirmative vote. The amendment passed unanimously (yays 26, nays 0). The committee later took a final roll call and referred the amended bill to the House floor (yays 23, nays 3).
The committee's discussion emphasized grant-funded implementation, coach and staff training, and use of existing school-safety funds rather than creating a new dedicated appropriation.
