SB494 makes a one-time appropriation of $150,000 from the government results and opportunity program fund to the Public Education Department for fiscal year 2026. The department would use the money to contract with a national organization that publishes official CPR and emergency cardiovascular care guidelines to provide defibrillator training to educational personnel in rural school districts.
The bill is narrowly focused on emergency preparedness in rural schools, aiming to ensure staff are trained to use automated external defibrillators in the event of a cardiac emergency. The appropriation reverts any unspent or unencumbered balance at the end of fiscal year 2026 back to the originating fund.
Impact
SB494 would create a temporary, targeted appropriation rather than amend substantive education or health statutes. Its practical effect would be to direct state funds to the Public Education Department for training rural school personnel in defibrillator use, potentially improving emergency response capacity in schools that may have fewer medical resources. The bill affects the government results and opportunity program fund and, indirectly, rural school districts and their employees.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to have a generally supportive, public-safety-oriented purpose with no recorded opposition in the provided materials. The bill’s focus on rural schools and emergency preparedness suggests it is framed as a practical health and safety investment rather than a controversial policy change. No committee transcripts or vote records were provided, so broader legislative sentiment cannot be assessed beyond the bill’s apparent intent.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of discussion, if raised, could include whether the appropriation is sufficient, whether training should be expanded beyond rural districts, and whether the state should fund this through a one-time grant versus a recurring program. However, no named opponents, amendments, or recorded objections are available in the supplied record.