A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning cardiac emergency preparedness, and, in
Page 1, Line 102connection therewith, removing certain requirements
Page 1, Line 103related to written plans for automated external
Page 1, Line 104defibrillator use and imposing certain requirements in
Page 1, Line 105high school athletics.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
Current law requires a person or entity that acquires an automated external defibrillator (AED) to develop written plans for the placement, use, and maintenance of the AED (written plans). The bill eliminates the requirements that the written plans:
- Identify personnel authorized to use the AED; and
- Are reviewed and approved by a licensed physician.
The bill imposes requirements for cardiac emergency preparedness for public and nonpublic high school athletics. Beginning on or before the start of the 2026-27 school year, a school district, charter school, board of cooperative services, approved facility school, or Indian tribe (local education provider) shall require each public high school that it operates (public high school) to acquire an AED. The governing authority of a nonpublic high school shall require the nonpublic high school to acquire an AED.
Beginning on or before the start of the 2026-27 school year, the bill requires a public or nonpublic high school to place an AED at each venue that it owns or operates where athletic practices or events take place or in an unlocked location that is accessible during school-sponsored athletic practices or events in which the public or nonpublic high school is participating (accessible location). Beginning on or before the start of the 2027-28 school year, the bill requires AED placement at each venue where the public or nonpublic high school's athletic practices or events take place or in an accessible location.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 13-21-108.1, amend
Page 2, Line 3(2), (3)(a)(IV), and (4)(b) introductory portion; and repeal (4)(b)(I) as follows:
Page 2, Line 413-21-108.1. Persons rendering emergency assistance through
Page 2, Line 5the use of automated external defibrillators - limited immunity -
Page 2, Line 6definition. (2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires,
Page 2, Line 7
(a)Page 2, Line 8
(I)Page 2, Line 9pursuant to 21 U.S.C. sec. 360 (k) from the federal food and drug
Page 2, Line 10administration;
Page 3, Line 1
(II)Page 3, Line 2ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia, and is capable of
Page 3, Line 3determining, without intervention by an operator, whether defibrillation should be performed; and
Page 3, Line 4
(III)Page 3, Line 5automatically charges and requests delivery of an electrical impulse to an individual's heart.
Page 3, Line 6
(b) "Licensed physician" means a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state.Page 3, Line 7(3) (a) In order to ensure public health and safety, a person or entity who acquires an AED shall ensure that:
Page 3, Line 8(IV) Written plans are in place concerning the placement of
Page 3, Line 9AEDs, training of personnel, pre-planned coordination with the
Page 3, Line 10emergency medical services system, medical oversight, AED
Page 3, Line 11maintenance,
identification of personnel authorized to use AEDs,Page 3, Line 12reporting of AED utilization;
which written plans have been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician;Page 3, Line 13(4) (b) The limited immunity provided in
paragraph (a) of this subsection (4)Page 3, Line 14(I)
The licensed physician who reviewed and approved the writtenPage 3, Line 15
plans described in subparagraph (IV) of paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of this section;Page 3, Line 16SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-1-129.7 as follows:
Page 3, Line 1722-1-129.7. Placement of automated external defibrillator -
Page 3, Line 18definitions - repeal. (1) As used in this section, unless the context
Page 3, Line 19otherwise requires:
Page 4, Line 1(a) "Automated external defibrillator" or "AED" means
Page 4, Line 2an automated external defibrillator approved for sale by the federal food and drug administration.
Page 4, Line 3(b) "Local education provider" means a school district, a
Page 4, Line 4charter school authorized by a school district pursuant to part
Page 4, Line 51 of article 30.5 of this title 22, a charter school authorized by
Page 4, Line 6the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article
Page 4, Line 730.5 of this title 22, a board of cooperative services created and
Page 4, Line 8operating pursuant to article 5 of this title 22 that operates one
Page 4, Line 9or more public high schools, a facility school approved pursuant to section 22-2-407, or an Indian tribe or tribal organization.
Page 4, Line 10(c) "Nonpublic high school" means a nonpublic high school that has an athletic department or organized athletic program.
Page 4, Line 11(d) "Public high school" means a public high school that
Page 4, Line 12has an athletic department or organized athletic program and that is operated by a local education provider.
Page 4, Line 13(e) "Sudden cardiac arrest" means the sudden and unexpected cessation of cardiac mechanical activity.
Page 4, Line 14(2) (a) On or before the start of the 2026-27 school year,
Page 4, Line 15a local education provider shall require each public high
Page 4, Line 16school that the local education provider operates, and the
Page 4, Line 17governing authority of a nonpublic high school shall require
Page 4, Line 18each nonpublic high school that the governing authority
Page 4, Line 19operates, to acquire and place, in accordance with nationally
Page 4, Line 20recognized, evidence-based standards for emergency cardiovascular care, a clearly marked, easily accessible AED:
Page 4, Line 21(I) At each venue where athletic practices or events take
Page 5, Line 1place that is owned and operated by the public or nonpublic high school; or
Page 5, Line 2(II) In an unlocked location that is accessible during any
Page 5, Line 3school-sponsored athletic event or practice in which the public or nonpublic high school is participating.
Page 5, Line 4(b) This subsection (2) is repealed, effective October 1, 2027.
Page 5, Line 5(3) On or before the start of the 2027-28 school year, a
Page 5, Line 6local education provider shall require each public high school
Page 5, Line 7that the local education provider operates, and the governing
Page 5, Line 8authority of a nonpublic high school shall require each
Page 5, Line 9nonpublic high school that the governing authority operates,
Page 5, Line 10to acquire and place, in accordance with nationally recognized,
Page 5, Line 11evidence-based standards for emergency cardiovascular care, a clearly marked, easily accessible AED:
Page 5, Line 12(a) At each venue where the public or nonpublic high school's athletic practices or events take place; or
Page 5, Line 13(b) In an unlocked location that is accessible during any
Page 5, Line 14school-sponsored athletic event or practice in which the public or nonpublic high school is participating.
Page 5, Line 15SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 5, Line 16determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 5, Line 17preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 5, Line 18the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.