Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Delaware General Assembly, fetched 2026-09-25. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. This is the current version. The official bill page.
SPONSOR: Rep. Harris & Rep. Heffernan & Sen. Poore
Reps. Jones Giltner, Bush, Lynn, Ross Levin,
Kamela Smith, Lambert, Bolden, Griffith, K. Williams,
D. Short; Sens. Buckson, Hansen
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 71
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 RELATING TO INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
1 Section 1. Amend § 303, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and
2 insertions as shown by underline as follows:
3 § 303. Regulations, policies, and procedures.
4 (e) The Board shall adopt regulations applicable to a member school regarding student athletes and awareness,
5 recognition, and management of sudden cardiac arrest. The Board shall, through either regulation or policy adopted under
6 regulation, do at least all of the following:
7 (4) Hold a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (“CPR”) certification for each school-appointed head coach.
8 The certification must include training on the use of an automated external defibrillator.
9 (f) The Board shall adopt regulations relating to secondary and middle school interscholastic athletics that do at
10 least all of the following:
11 (1) Require all coaches to obtain and maintain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid,
12 and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Training and certification in CPR and AED use must be
13 consistent with national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines.
14 (2) Require that each school with an athletic department or program develop an athletic Emergency Action
15 Plan (Plan) to respond to incidents of cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency during a school athletic
16 practice or event. The Plan must follow nationally recognized recommendations and be venue-specific, widely
17 distributed, posted, and rehearsed annually.
18 (3) Require that an AED be clearly marked and easily accessible in an unlocked location at each school
19 athletic venue and event. The AED must be accessible during the school day and any school-sponsored athletic event
20 or team practice in which students of the school are participating. The AED must be placed in accordance with
21 nationally recognized guidelines focused on emergency cardiovascular care.
22 (4) Require that AEDs be tested and maintained according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines.
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23 (5) Require notification is provided to the Office of Emergency Medical Services regarding the AED, the type
24 acquired, and its location.
SYNOPSIS
This Act requires the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association to promulgate regulations requiring all
coaches to have CPR, first aid, and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. It also requires schools with an athletic
program or department to have an Emergency Action Plan for responding to a cardiac arrest event at an athletic event or
practice. It requires that an AED be accessible in a clearly marked, unlocked location at any athletic event or venue. Finally,
the regulations must require testing and maintenance of AEDs and notification to the Office of Emergency Medical
Services regarding the AED acquisition and its location.
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