AN ACT Relating to promoting cardiac emergency response plans in schools;
HB 1863 requires Washington school districts to ensure that each school develops a cardiac emergency response plan beginning in the 2024-25 school year. The plan must prepare for cardiac arrest on school property and at school-sponsored athletic practices and events, and it must be developed in coordination with local emergency medical services. The bill specifies core plan elements, including designation of a cardiac emergency response team, procedures for activating the team, placement and maintenance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), CPR/first aid/AED training, annual drills, and procedures for responding to off-campus cardiac arrest incidents at school-sponsored events.
The bill also creates a grant program in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to help public schools develop and implement these plans, train staff, and purchase and maintain AEDs. Priority for grants goes to schools with higher shares of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Schools and districts may accept gifts, grants, and donations for AED-related costs. In addition, the bill requires high school athletic coaches to obtain and maintain CPR, first aid, and AED training, and directs OSPI, in consultation with the Department of Health, to provide guidance and assistance to districts. The bill applies to charter schools and state-tribal compact schools to the same extent as school districts.
HB 1863 would add new requirements to Washington school operations law by mandating cardiac emergency response planning, AED placement and maintenance, staff training, and annual drills in schools. It also amends existing statutes governing school health and safety to require OSPI to develop guidance for a medical emergency response and AED program for high schools and to support districts in obtaining grants or donations for AEDs. The bill affects school districts, charter schools, state-tribal compact schools, school staff, and athletic coaches, while also creating a new state grant program and associated administrative duties for OSPI.
The bill appears to have a broadly supportive public-safety orientation, with its focus on preventing deaths from sudden cardiac arrest in schools and at athletic events. Although no committee transcripts or recorded votes are provided, the bill’s structure suggests a consensus-driven approach centered on evidence-based emergency preparedness, AED access, and CPR training. The inclusion of grant funding and priority for higher-need schools indicates an effort to make compliance more feasible and equitable.
The main potential points of contention are likely to be cost, implementation burden, and administrative capacity. Schools and districts may face expenses for AED purchase, maintenance, staff training, signage, and ongoing drills, even though the bill allows grants and donations to offset some costs. Another possible issue is the scope of the requirements, including whether schools can realistically place AEDs within the bill’s three-minute access goal and whether smaller districts, charter schools, and state-tribal compact schools can meet the same standards as larger districts. The bill also relies on guidance from national medical organizations, which may raise questions about flexibility versus uniform statewide standards.