Establishes Cardiac Emergency Response in Schools Grant Program in DOE, appropriates $600,000.
Summary
This bill creates the Cardiac Emergency Response in Schools Grant Program within the Department of Education. The program would provide grants to school districts, charter schools, renaissance school projects, and nonpublic schools to improve preparedness for cardiac emergencies. Eligible uses of grant funds include purchasing and maintaining automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), buying CPR training kits, implementing cardiac emergency response plans, and training staff in CPR or basic first aid.
The bill also establishes an application and review process. Applicants must describe their current cardiac emergency policies and their need for additional funding, and the Commissioner of Education must develop criteria for awarding grants. The commissioner may issue multi-year grants and must prioritize applicants showing the greatest need. Grant recipients must report on how funds were used within one year, and the commissioner must report to the Governor and Legislature within two years on program participation, awards, and recommendations for continuation or expansion.
Impact
The bill supplements Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes by adding a new DOE grant program focused on school cardiac emergency preparedness. It does not mandate AED purchases or training statewide, but it creates a funding mechanism to support those activities in public and nonpublic schools and authorizes the Department of Education to administer grants, set application criteria, and collect reporting data. The bill also appropriates $600,000 from the General Fund for the program, making it a direct state expenditure affecting school safety and emergency response resources.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the overall sentiment appears supportive and preventive in nature. The proposal is framed around student and staff safety, emergency readiness, and access to life-saving equipment and training. The structure of the bill, including priority for schools with the greatest need and reporting requirements, suggests an emphasis on practical implementation and accountability rather than controversy.
Contention
No committee transcripts or vote records were provided, so there is no documented opposition or debate to identify. Potential points of contention, if raised, would likely involve the size and source of the $600,000 appropriation, how grants are allocated among public and nonpublic schools, and whether the program should be mandatory rather than grant-based. Another possible issue is administrative discretion, since the commissioner is given broad authority to set application criteria, determine award amounts, and prioritize need.