Bill > H362

This bill mandates that every public school district in the commonwealth provide instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a life-saving technique to restore breathing and circulation, and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), a portable device that can restart a heart, as part of the existing health education curriculum for students in grades 9 through 12. School districts have the flexibility to choose a no-cost instructional program that does not require certification, but it must be based on programs from reputable organizations like the American Heart Association or American Red Cross and include hands-on practice for students. Participation in this CPR and AED training will be a requirement for high school graduation, with exceptions for students whose participation is medically inadvisable as certified by a physician or for whom a parent or guardian submits a written objection. This act is set to become effective on September 1, 2015.