Bill
S 1606
Requires Chapter 180 clubs to have at least one on-site AED and mandatory CPR/AED training for staff and members, with a state fund to help cover costs.
Status snapshot
- Filed in the Massachusetts Senate on January 17, 2025 by Senator Patrick M. O’Connor (First Plymouth and Norfolk).
- Referred to the Committee on Public Health; a committee hearing was scheduled for June 25, 2025. Legislative action records also show later referral to the Committee on Finance.
- Note: some of the provided metadata (alternate title about firefighter benefits and a list of federal sponsors) appears inconsistent with the bill text below; this summary is based on the bill text filed by Senator O’Connor (Senate No. 1606).
Purpose and intent
- To improve sudden cardiac arrest response at private social and fraternal organizations by requiring those organizations to have at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) on site and to ensure personnel receive AED and CPR training. The bill also creates a state fund (subject to appropriation) to help organizations cover procurement, maintenance, and training costs.
Key provisions
- Required AEDs:
- Any group organized under Chapter 180 of the Massachusetts General Laws must provide and maintain at least one fully functional AED for emergency use (Section 1(a)). Chapter 180 generally governs corporations formed for social and fraternal purposes (clubs, lodges, similar organizations).
- Mandatory training:
- Organizations required to have an AED must provide mandatory training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and AED use consistent with standards of the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
- Training must be provided to all organizational staff, all members, and any other individuals the organization’s leadership designates (Section 1(b)).
- Financial assistance:
- Section 2 establishes a fund, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, to assist eligible groups with AED procurement, maintenance, and training costs.
Who would be affected
- Primary: Clubs, lodges, fraternal organizations and similar entities incorporated or organized under Chapter 180 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
- Secondary: Organization staff and members (training requirement), and the Commonwealth (potential appropriations to fund procurement/maintenance/training assistance).
- No civil penalties, enforcement mechanisms, or specific implementation deadlines are specified in the bill text.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Compliance costs: Organizations would incur costs to buy and maintain AED(s) and to provide (or pay for) certified CPR/AED training. Typical AED units and ongoing maintenance/training can be a modest but nontrivial expense for small clubs.
- State budget implication: The bill creates a state fund to offset costs, but assistance would require future appropriation; no funding amount is specified.
- Public health benefit: Broader AED access and trained responders could improve survival from out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest at private venues.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Filed Jan 17, 2025; committee hearing scheduled for June 25, 2025 (Public Health). Legislative records also indicate subsequent referral to Finance, which would be relevant because the bill proposes a fund subject to appropriation.
- If enacted, implementation timing would depend on the bill’s effective date (not specified in text) and on appropriation of funds for assistance.
Limitations in the bill text
- The bill does not specify enforcement, inspection, reporting requirements, minimum AED placement or maintenance standards beyond “fully functional,” nor does it set required training frequency or recertification intervals. Those details would likely be addressed in guidance, regulation, or follow-on legislation.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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