SB 945 aims to strengthen school-based health readiness by integrating a formal framework for physical education that includes mandatory training and access to life-saving equipment. The bill focuses on ensuring that students, staff, and the school environment are prepared to respond to cardiopulmonary emergencies through CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The measure seeks to standardize requirements within the physical education curriculum and school safety practices related to life support.
Curriculum framework: Establishes a state-prescribed framework for physical education that embeds CPR instruction and AED awareness/training as part of the curriculum or as a closely associated program component. The framework is intended to ensure students receive age-appropriate, practical instruction in life-saving techniques.
CPR training requirements: Requires schools to provide or ensure access to CPR training for students as part of physical education or health-related coursework. The training is expected to cover recognition of cardiac emergencies and the steps to respond effectively until professional help arrives.
AED access and familiarity: Mandates that schools create familiarity with AEDs, including location awareness, operational knowledge, and drills or practice using AEDs to ensure staff and students understand how to deploy devices during emergencies.
Coordination with emergency response planning: Connects CPR/AED training with broader school emergency preparedness plans, ensuring that CPR/AED procedures align with established lockdown, evacuation, and communication protocols.
Implementation timeline: The bill outlines a phased or defined timeline for districts to adopt the framework and implement training, with potential deadlines for curriculum adoption, teacher training, and equipment readiness. Specific dates would be detailed in the statutory language.
Monitoring and reporting: Likely includes accountability provisions such as reporting requirements to the state about progress, completion rates of CPR training, and AED readiness assessments, though exact metrics would be defined in the text.
Public schools and districts (K-12): Primary entities responsible for integrating the CPR/AED framework into physical education and emergency planning, providing training, and maintaining AEDs.
Students: Benefit from mandated CPR instruction and increased exposure to AED familiarity as part of their PE or health education.
School staff and administrators: Responsible for coordinating training, maintaining equipment, and incorporating CPR/AED procedures into safety plans.
Education stakeholders: Potentially affected entities include teachers (especially physical education and health instructors), school nurses, district safety officers, and vendor/service providers supplying CPR/AED training and equipment.
Legislative progress: The bill has advanced through multiple committee stages, including amendments and re-referrals. Steps noted include hearings, committee approvals (Do Pass), suspense-file placement, and eventual movement toward consent or third reading.
Hearing and adoption timeline (historical notes):
- February–April 2026: Referred to committees, amended, and scheduled for hearings.
- April 15, 2026: Passed from committee with amendments and re-referred to the Assembly Policy Committee on Education (APPR).
- April 27, 2026: Placed on APPR suspense file.
- May 14, 2026: Read second time; ordered to third reading after approval in APPR.
- May 20, 2026: Ordered to special consent calendar (policy approval status).
Sponsorship: Chief sponsor is not named in full, but a co-sponsor is Akilah Weber Pierson, indicating bipartisan or collaborative support across committees.
Notes: The above reflects the bill’s stated objectives, provisions, and procedural trajectory based on the available action history and sponsor information. For precise statutory language, timelines, reimbursement details, and any district-specific implementation requirements, refer to the bill’s text as enrolled and any enacted amendments.
