WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

H 3576

Luke Barrett Act

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Heather Bauer and 3 co-sponsors

SC's Luke Barrett Act requires all public schools to implement Cardiac Emergency Response Plans and expand AED access/training, with immunity for good-faith actions.

Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bauer
1
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 3576

Summary — "Luke Barrett Act" (H 3576)

Note: The provided file contains two distinct legislative texts merged together. One is a South Carolina bill titled the "Luke Barrett Act" (relating to cardiac emergency response and AED programs in schools). The other is a Massachusetts House bill (House No. 3576, Rep. Chynah Tyler) to establish a clean fuel standard. The primary title you gave — Luke Barrett Act — corresponds to the South Carolina measure below. This summary focuses on the Luke Barrett Act and also briefly flags the included Massachusetts clean-fuels text.

Purpose

The Luke Barrett Act directs South Carolina public-school systems (including charter schools) to develop and implement Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) and to expand Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program requirements across all public schools. The objectives are to reduce deaths from sudden cardiac arrest on school grounds and during school-sponsored athletic practices and events, increase access to AEDs, require training and maintenance, and provide limited legal immunity for good-faith actions under the statute.

Key provisions (South Carolina — additions to Title 59, Chapter 17)

  • Adds Section 59-17-165 establishing definitions and requiring each public school district or charter authorizer to develop a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) for on-campus incidents and for school-sponsored athletic practices/events.
  • CERP minimum elements (align with American Heart Association or other national guidelines):
    • Establish a school-level cardiac emergency response team and activation protocols.
    • AED placement strategy and routine maintenance on each campus.
    • Ongoing designated staff training in CPR and AED use.
    • Periodic drills and integration with local Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
    • Annual review/evaluation of the plan.
  • AED accessibility requirements:
    • Each public school must ensure AEDs are accessible at every school athletic venue and at off-site athletic events (host team must make AED available).
    • AEDs must be unlocked, properly signed, available during school hours and athletic events.
    • Presence of EMS, athletic trainer, school nurse, or coach equipped with an AED satisfies the requirement.
  • Training and maintenance:
    • Subject to funding, designated school personnel must receive evidence-based training in first aid, CPR, and AED use.
    • School districts must establish inspection and maintenance protocols for AEDs.
  • Liability and immunity:
    • Public schools, districts, governing authorities, staff, volunteers, and others who act under the statute are granted civil and criminal immunity for actions taken pursuant to the CERP, except for gross negligence or willful/reckless conduct.
    • First aid/CPR/AED use under this act is not considered the practice of medicine or nursing.
  • Funding caveat:
    • Many obligations (training, AED programs) are expressly “subject to funding” by the General Assembly or the South Carolina Department of Education.

Who is affected

  • Public school districts, charter schools, school governing authorities, and all public schools in South Carolina.
  • School personnel (coaches, nurses, athletic trainers), students, volunteers, and parents.
  • Local EMS providers (for coordination and integration).

Procedural status & timeline (as provided)

  • Prefiled: 12/12/2024 (text cites this date).
  • Introduced/read first time: 01/14/2025.
  • Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works (multiple references).
  • Sponsor name addition: Bauer requested (01/28/2025).
  • Hearing scheduled: 05/14/2025 (01:00–05:00 PM in A-2).
  • Reporting date extended to: 12/03/2025. (Note: the provided legislative actions also include items that appear linked to a Massachusetts House measure; see note below.)

Brief note on the Massachusetts text included in the file

The same document also includes a Massachusetts bill (House No. 3576, Rep. Chynah Tyler) that would add Section 11F 2/3 to Chapter 25A to establish a Clean Fuel Standard: reduce transportation fuel carbon intensity 80% (from 1990) by 2050; create a lifecycle-based credit/deficit market for fuel providers; allow credit trading; exclude certain modes (aviation, rail, military, interstate vessels) with opt-in possibilities; and require investments of a portion of public entities’ credits into disadvantaged communities. That text appears separate from the Luke Barrett Act and pertains to Massachusetts energy policy rather than the South Carolina school AED provisions.

If you want, I can:
- Produce a standalone, plain-language one-page factsheet for school administrators about implementation steps under the Luke Barrett Act; or
- Summarize the Massachusetts clean-fuel proposal as a separate brief.

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

Sign in to ask a question.