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Bill

SF 2390

A bill for an act establishing the school health-related emergency response plan competitive grant program within the department of education, making appropriations, and including applicability provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Creates a state grant program for Iowa schools to develop and implement comprehensive cardiac emergency response plans with AEDs, training, and drills.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 2474.
#appropriations #athletics #automaticexternaldefibrillators #cardiacarrest #charterschools #defibrillators #education #educationdepartment #emergencymanagement #grants #medicalcare #privateeducation #schooldistricts #schools
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Bill Summary · SF 2390

Overview

SF 2390, introduced in the Iowa Senate by the Education Committee, would create a new School Health-Related Emergency Response Plan Competitive Grant Program within the Department of Education. The program would provide grants to schools to develop and implement cardiac emergency response plans and related procedures, aligned with guidance from the American Heart Association. The bill establishes definitions, eligibility, grant administration, and applicable timelines, with funding contingent on future appropriation.

Purpose and intent

  • Establish a state-administered competitive grant program to assist schools in preparing for and responding to cardiac emergencies.
  • Ensure schools develop comprehensive cardiac emergency response plans and implement AED placement, training, drills, and coordination with emergency medical services.
  • Integrate core elements of American Heart Association guidance into school emergency planning.
  • Provide funding to offset costs associated with establishing and maintaining these plans, while ensuring funds supplement rather than supplant existing public funding.

Key provisions and changes

  • New program: School Health-Related Emergency Response Plan Competitive Grant Program, to be administered by the Department of Education.
  • Definitions (section 280.16B):
    • Athletic Emergency Action Plan: guidelines/templates for emergencies during physical education or extracurricular athletic activities.
    • Automated External Defibrillator (AED): device definition for purposes of the program.
    • Cardiac Emergency Response Plan: written plan detailing steps to respond to cardiac arrest or similar emergencies on school property or at school activities, incorporating American Heart Association guidance.
    • School: includes school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools.
  • Grant funding and administration (section 280.16B, subsections 2-4):
    • If the General Assembly appropriates funds to the program, the Department of Education will develop and administer grants to offset costs of creating and implementing cardiac emergency response plans.
    • Requirements for the plan include: forming a cardiac emergency response team, AED placement and signage, routine AED maintenance, information sharing with emergency medical services, distribution of the plan to all attendance centers, ongoing staff training and certification (first aid, CPR, AED use), annual drills, EMS notification procedures, annual plan review, and inclusion of an Athletic Emergency Action Plan.
    • AED placement standards require: AEDs accessible within three minutes of cardiac arrest, unlocked and accessible locations, appropriate signage, and ongoing maintenance per manufacturer guidelines.
    • Information to be provided to EMS about the AEDs (types and locations).
    • Training for coaches, school nurses, athletic trainers, and other appropriate staff.
    • Annual drills to practice the cardiac emergency response plan.
  • Rulemaking (section 280.16B, subsection 3):
    • State Board of Education to adopt rules to administer the program, including grant materials, eligibility, and award criteria.
  • Fund and fiscal notes (section 280.16B, subsections 4-5):
    • Grants must supplement, not supplant, existing funding for similar purposes.
    • A dedicated fund (School Health-Related Emergency Response Plan Competitive Grant Program Fund) would be established in the state treasury, with moneys appropriated to the Department of Education for grants.
    • Unobligated funds would remain available for expenditure; interest earnings credited to the fund.
  • Applicability and timing (section 4, section 280.16B applicability):
    • Applies to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.
  • Related amendments (sections 1 and 2):
    • School districts and certain school types would be required to comply with the cardiac emergency response plan requirements, aligning them with existing policy in other emergency response contexts.

Who would be affected

  • Public and nonpublic schools within Iowa, including:
    • School districts
    • Accredited nonpublic schools
    • Charter schools
    • Innovation Zone schools
  • School employees and contractors responsible for safety, health, athletics, and emergency response (e.g., coaches, school nurses, athletic trainers, other staff as appropriate).
  • Local emergency medical services providers, which would coordinate with schools during cardiac emergencies.
  • The Iowa Department of Education, responsible for administering the grant program and implementing rules.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Funding contingent on future appropriation by the General Assembly to the new fund.
  • If funded, the Department of Education will issue grants to offset costs of implementing cardiac emergency response plans.
  • The State Board of Education would create rules to govern eligibility, application materials, and award criteria.
  • Implementing population: school years beginning July 1, 2027 or later.
  • Ongoing requirements include annual drills, annual plan reviews, and ongoing training/certification.

Potential impact

  • Improved readiness for cardiac emergencies in schools through standardized plans, AED accessibility, and staff training.
  • Enhanced collaboration with EMS and better data sharing about AEDs and locations.
  • Additional, targeted funding to support implementation without displacing existing education funding.
  • A clear statutory framework to guide school health emergency planning consistent with national cardiac safety guidance.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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