Bill > S1682

This bill establishes the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) Trust Fund to support the purchase of AEDs for public safety and first responder vehicles across municipalities, public colleges and universities, and charitable corporations. The fund will be primarily financed through a new $0.50 surcharge on vehicle rental transactions, with annual revenues capped at $1,000,000, and will also accept additional funding from appropriations, gifts, grants, and investment income. The Secretary of Public Safety and Security will administer the fund, making grants to eligible entities for AED purchases and providing an annual report on the fund's activity to legislative clerks and committees. Any unspent money in the fund will remain available for future years, preventing it from reverting to the General Fund. The bill specifies that the surcharge will not apply to transportation network companies or short-term hourly rentals, and it is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, with the goal of improving emergency medical response capabilities by ensuring AEDs are available in public safety vehicles.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1682