Enacts "Stella's law"; requires a staff member certified in first aid, CPR, and the Heimlich maneuver to be present in school cafeterias during lunchtimes.
Summary
A08513, titled "Stella's law," would amend the New York Education Law to require that at least one adult faculty or staff member in each school be certified in first aid, CPR, and the Heimlich maneuver and be present and monitoring students in the cafeteria during all lunchtime periods in primary and secondary schools. The bill defines CPR by reference to existing Public Health Law and defines the Heimlich maneuver for purposes of the new requirement.
The measure is aimed at improving student safety during lunch periods by ensuring that trained personnel are available to respond quickly to choking or other medical emergencies in school cafeterias. It applies to both primary and secondary schools and would take effect on July 1 following enactment, with immediate authorization for any necessary implementing rules or regulations.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would add a new section 3001-e to the Education Law and create a statewide staffing and certification requirement for school cafeterias during lunch periods. Schools would need to ensure at least one adult staff member on duty in the cafeteria is trained in first aid, CPR, and the Heimlich maneuver, which could require additional training, scheduling, and compliance measures for school districts and other covered schools.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or vote history, so there is no documented debate or formal vote sentiment to assess. Based on the bill text and caption alone, the proposal appears safety-oriented and preventive, with a clear focus on student health and emergency preparedness in schools.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of concern, if raised in future debate, could include staffing feasibility, training costs, and how schools would ensure continuous coverage in cafeterias during all lunch periods, but these issues are not reflected in the available transcript or voting record.