To require CPR training and promote careers in emergency medical services
This bill would create a statewide framework to expand CPR training in Massachusetts high schools and to encourage students to pursue careers in emergency medical services (EMS). It authorizes the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish CPR training programs as part of high school health education, with instruction that includes chest compressions, automated external defibrillator use, recognizing medical emergencies, and calling 911. Students who complete the program would receive CPR certification valid for two years.
The bill also creates a new CPR and EMS High School Training Fund to pay for CPR equipment, training materials, EMS career awareness sessions, an EMS ambassador program, scholarships, tuition credits, and related financial assistance. It directs the Department of Public Health and EMS agencies to support mentoring and career outreach, and it encourages partnerships with local EMS providers, nonprofits, and colleges to connect students to EMT-Basic training pathways. The program would begin with the 2026-2027 academic year, and the act would take effect July 1, 2026.
The bill would amend Chapter 29 and Chapter 71 of the General Laws by adding a dedicated funding mechanism and a new high school CPR/EMS education program. It would authorize grants, scholarships, tuition credits, and other incentives for students and schools, while also requiring annual reporting by schools and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on participation, certification rates, and program outcomes. The measure would affect public high schools, vocational and charter schools, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Department of Public Health, EMS agencies, and postsecondary institutions offering EMT-Basic training.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the overall sentiment appears supportive and policy-oriented, with the bill framed as a public safety and workforce development measure. Its stated goals are to strengthen emergency preparedness and build interest in EMS careers among high school students. The inclusion of funding, scholarships, and tuition credits suggests an effort to make the program attractive and practical for students and schools.
No committee transcripts or vote history were provided, so there is no documented opposition or amendment debate to identify. Potential points of contention, based on the bill itself, could include the cost of establishing and maintaining the new fund, the administrative burden on schools and state agencies, and whether CPR training should be mandatory or optional within the health curriculum. Another possible issue is the use of state funds to provide scholarships and tuition credits tied to post-graduation EMS pathways and service commitments.