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AB 1819

Automated external defibrillators.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Megan Dahle and 1 co-sponsor

Senior centers over 50 must implement mandated AED placement, training, maintenance, and emergency procedures, with liability protections for staff and volunteers.

Read second time and amended.
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Bill Summary · AB 1819

Summary of AB 1819 (2025-2026) – Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)

Author: Assembly Member Sanchez (Coauthor: Senator Dahle)
Amendments: Amends Health and Safety Code, adds new section; effective date not specified in text provided.
Status: As of April 13, 2026, amended and re-referred to House Committees (Judiciary; Aging & Long-Term Care).

1) Purpose and Intent

  • The bill expands requirements related to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in California, specifically by adding obligations for senior centers (including those operated by local governments).
  • It aims to improve AED availability, maintenance, training, and emergency response procedures at senior centers to enhance public safety and protect individuals responding to cardiac emergencies.
  • It also clarifies civil liability protections for staff, volunteers, and facility boards in relation to AED use, with narrow exceptions for gross negligence or willful misconduct.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

AED Mandate for Senior Centers

  • Senior centers (defined to include facilities serving individuals 55+ and operated by local government as applicable) with a capacity over 50 are newly subject to AED placement requirements.
  • Senior centers must acquire, maintain, and train personnel in the use of an AED.

Training and Maintenance Standards

  • The bill requires:
    • Compliance with placement regulations for AEDs.
    • Ongoing maintenance and regular testing of AEDs according to manufacturer guidelines, the American Heart Association (AHA), or the American Red Cross, and applicable FDA/state rules.
    • Readiness checks after each use and at least every 30 days if unused; records must be kept.
    • Immediate EMS activation (911) and reporting of AED use to the licensed physician and local EMS agency after any AED deployment.

Training Requirements for Staff/Volunteers

  • For every AED unit acquired, at least one trained employee or volunteer must be available per unit, with a schedule:
    • For the first five AED units: training for at least one staff/volunteer per unit.
    • For each additional set of five units: at least one additional trained staff/volunteer.
  • Training must meet EMS Authority regulations and standards of the AHA or American Red Cross.
  • Trained personnel should be available during staffed operating hours; facilities may need additional staff to ensure coverage.

Written Emergency Plan

  • Senior centers must have a written emergency plan detailing procedures for AED use, including immediate 911 activation and notifying appropriate personnel at start of AED procedures.

Access During Unstaffed Periods

  • If a senior center allows access when no employee/volunteer is on site, the center must:
    • Ensure employees on premises are CPR/AED trained within 30 days of employment.
    • Maintain a trained staff/volunteer on site for at least 50 hours per week.
    • Inform users that trained staff may not be on site at all times.
    • Deny access in spaces larger than 6,000 square feet when no trained staff are present.

Liability Protections

  • Employees, volunteers, and board members are shielded from civil damages for AED use (or non-use) except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
  • Owners, managers, employees, or other responsible authorities are likewise protected, provided they comply with the established requirements.
  • The liability protections extend to the broader operation of AED use and emergency response, with specified carve-outs for gross negligence or intentional harm.

Local Mandate Reimbursement

  • If the California Commission on State Mandates finds that the act imposes costs mandated by the state, local agencies and school districts would be reimbursed per existing Government Code provisions.

3) Affected Entities

  • Senior centers (including government-operated centers) with capacity over 50; new AED requirements apply.
  • Facility owners, managers, employees, and volunteers responsible for senior centers.
  • Local governments that operate senior centers.
  • Local Emergency Medical Services agencies and licensed physicians (as reporting recipients for AED use).
  • General public accessing senior centers during times without staff on site (due to access provisions).

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Legislative History: Introduced February 10, 2026; amendments noted; referred to Judiciary and Aging & Long-Term Care committees; subsequent re-refer to relevant committees in April 2026.
  • Implementation: The bill text sets forth ongoing compliance requirements (maintenance, testing, training, written plan, reporting, and access rules). Specific dates for compliance (e.g., start of training, first readiness checks) align with standard regulatory timelines but are not itemized with firm calendar dates beyond general requirements.
  • Fiscal Provisions: If mandated costs are found, local reimbursements would follow existing state mandate reimbursement procedures.

5) Observations for Readers

  • The bill broadens AED requirements from “certain occupied structures” to specifically include senior centers with 50+ capacity.
  • It balances public safety with civil liability protections for those involved in AED use, adding explicit training and system-wide readiness expectations.
  • It imposes administrative obligations (training, maintenance records, written emergency plan) intended to standardize AED readiness and response at senior centers.
  • Potential local cost implications may trigger state mandate reimbursement processes.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a specific audience (e.g., local government officials, senior center operators, or healthcare policymakers) or add a quick comparison to current California AED statutes.

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

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