SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

“The Executive Office of Health and Human Services is hereby authorized and directed to establish  a grant program for the purchase of public health equipment; provided, that the department shall award grants for public access programs to cities and towns for mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) devices; provided further, that the police or fire department or fire protection district may apply in writing to the department in a manner prescribed by the department based upon current deployment levels of mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation devices, population and geographic need to best promote availability and access to cardiopulmonary resuscitation devices by the general public and to ensure that prospective first responders are appropriately trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation; provided further, that such grant requests shall be used for mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation equipment purchase and replacement; provided further, that a city or town shall, as a condition of receiving financial assistance under this item, have implemented a plan for first responder training in mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation and documentation in accordance with this item.”