Requires schools safety plans to include a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the use of appropriate personnel and measures to respond to incidents involving any individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or similar life-threatening emergency on any school site owned or operated by a school or at a location of a school sponsored event.
Summary
S05539, known as "Desha's law," amends the New York Education Law to require school safety plans to include a cardiac emergency response plan. The bill directs district-wide school safety teams to develop and implement written procedures for responding to sudden cardiac arrest or similar life-threatening emergencies at school sites and school-sponsored events, including athletic practices and games. It also requires school safety training to include sudden cardiac arrest as a topic, alongside violence prevention and mental health.
The bill further updates existing school emergency provisions to ensure automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are clearly marked, accessible, and maintained according to recognized cardiac-care guidelines. It also adds sudden cardiac arrest to the list of emergency situations that school response procedures must address. The measure takes effect 180 days after becoming law, with immediate authorization for any rules or regulations needed to implement it.
Impact
This bill would expand section 917 and section 2801-a of the Education Law by adding cardiac emergency planning, training, and response requirements for school districts, BOCES, county vocational education and extension boards, and charter schools. It would affect school safety plans, staff training, emergency response protocols, and AED readiness, and it would require schools to integrate nationally recognized evidence-based cardiac response practices and consider coordination with local EMS protocols.
Sentiment
The available context suggests a generally supportive and safety-oriented posture toward the bill, with no recorded votes or committee transcript debate indicating opposition. The bill was introduced, amended, and recommitted, which suggests it moved through the committee process with refinement rather than controversy. Overall, the measure appears framed as a public-safety and student-wellness initiative focused on preventing deaths from sudden cardiac arrest in schools.
Contention
No formal committee objections, recorded votes, or transcripted debate are provided, so there is no documented opposition in the available materials. The main policy choices embedded in the bill are the scope of required cardiac emergency planning, the extent to which schools must align with American Heart Association or other national guidelines, and the requirement that staff CPR/AED training be voluntary for certain personnel. Any potential contention would likely center on implementation burden, training logistics, and coordination with existing school safety and EMS systems.
Same As
Requires schools safety plans to include a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the use of appropriate personnel and measures to respond to incidents involving any individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or similar life-threatening emergency on any school site owned or operated by a school or at a location of a school sponsored event.
Requires schools safety plans to include a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the use of appropriate personnel and measures to respond to incidents involving any individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or similar life-threatening emergency on any school site owned or operated by a school or at a location of a school sponsored event.