To Require Schools To Support, Establish, And Implement A Cardiac Emergency Response Plan That Integrates Nationally Recognized Elements.
HB1398 requires Arkansas schools to develop and implement a cardiac emergency response plan as part of their emergency operations plans, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill defines key terms such as athletic activity, automated external defibrillator (AED), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), cardiac emergency response plan, and sudden cardiac arrest, and it expands the existing student sudden cardiac arrest education statute to cover school-wide emergency preparedness. The plan must include nationally recognized core elements, a cardiac emergency response team, procedures for activating that team, AED placement and maintenance, staff training, annual drills, coordination with local emergency medical services, and a process for reviewing and evaluating the plan.
The bill also specifies that AEDs should be placed on site, clearly marked, kept in unlocked locations, and made available for use within three minutes when possible. Schools must disseminate the plan across campus and train appropriate staff in first aid, CPR, and AED use using guidance from nationally recognized emergency cardiovascular care organizations. The Department of Education is authorized to establish a monitoring process for compliance, and schools must incorporate the new requirements at the next scheduled revision of their emergency operations plan, but no later than the 2026-2027 school year.
HB1398 amends Arkansas Code § 6-18-713 to impose new statewide requirements on public schools and other school-sponsored athletic settings regarding cardiac emergency preparedness. It affects school emergency operations planning, staff training expectations, AED placement and maintenance practices, and coordination with local EMS. The bill does not create a new criminal or civil penalty in the text provided, but it gives the Department of Education discretion to monitor adherence and requires schools to update their plans within a defined timeline.
The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support and no recorded opposition: the bill passed the House 97-0 and the Senate 34-0 on third reading. With no committee transcripts provided, the overall sentiment appears broadly favorable and noncontroversial, likely reflecting support for student safety, emergency readiness, and access to life-saving equipment and training in schools.
No major points of contention are evident in the provided materials. The only potentially sensitive issues are the operational and financial burdens on schools, including AED placement, staff training, annual drills, and coordination with emergency responders, as well as the Department of Education’s possible monitoring role. However, the unanimous votes suggest these concerns did not generate visible opposition in the recorded proceedings.