SECTION 1.  Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 2C, the following section:-

Section 2D.  Each school district in the commonwealth shall provide instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator as part of the existing health education curriculum in grades 9 through 12.  The school district may select a no-cost, non-certification instructional program to meet this requirement.  The instructional program provided shall be modeled from an instructional program established by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or other nationally-recognized association with expertise in instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator and include a hands-on learning component for each participating student.  Each public high school student shall be required to participate in the instructional program as a requirement for high school graduation; provided, however, that no student shall be required to take part in the instructional program if (i) a licensed physician certifies in writing that such participation would be injurious to the student; or (ii) a parent or guardian for the student submits a written objection to the student’s participation in the instructional program.

SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect on September 1, 2015.