SENATE DOCKET, NO. 608        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael F. Rush

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act providing hands only CPR training and the use of defibrillators.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 608        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 351 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act providing hands only CPR training and the use of defibrillators.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

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 hands only cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator as part of the existing physical education or 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 a 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, 2026.