An act to create and enact a new section to chapter 15.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to cardiac emergency response plans for public and nonpublic schools and athletic events., the official text

Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota In Regular Session Commencing Tuesday, January 7, 2025
HOUSE BILL NO. 1363 (Representatives Meier, Dockter, Hagert, Heinert, J. Olson, Hauck, Jonas, Novak, Rohr)
(Senators Cleary, Dever, Boschee)
AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 15.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to cardiac emergency response plans for public and nonpublic schools and athletic events.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA: SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 15.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and
enacted as follows: Superintendent of public instruction - Cardiac emergency response plan for public and
nonpublic schools and athletic events. 1. As used in this section: a. "Automated external defibrillator" means a lightweight, portable device capable of delivering an electric shock through an individual's chest to the individual's heart, which is used in the event of cardiac arrest to attempt to stop an irregular heartbeat and allow a normal rhythm to resume. b. "Cardiac arrest" means a life-threatening event in which an individual's heart unexpectedly stops beating. c. "Cardiac emergency response plan" or "plan" means a written document establishing the specific steps to reduce the chance of death from cardiac arrest. 2. The department of health and human services, in collaboration with the superintendent of public instruction, shall create a customizable cardiac emergency response plan template for schools and nonpublic schools to use to develop a plan tailored to the school or nonpublic school. 3. The cardiac emergency response plan template must integrate core elements established by the American heart association or other nationally recognized organization. The plan template must require: a. Review and adoption of the cardiac emergency response plan by the district crisis management team, which must be reviewed annually. b. Activation of the team if an individual experiences sudden cardiac arrest. c. Placement of automated external defibrillators on school grounds. d. Routine maintenance of automated external defibrillators. e. Distribution of the plan on school grounds. f. Stipulation of appropriate school personnel, including licensed coaches, school nurses, and athletic trainers, to receive training. g. Coordination with local emergency medical services providers. h. Annual review and evaluation of the plan.

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4. Beginning with the 2027-28 school year, each public and nonpublic school shall: a. Using the template provided by the department of health and human services, develop a cardiac emergency response plan for inclusion in the school district crisis management plan for use by school personnel if an individual experiences sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency on school-owned grounds, and school-owned athletic venues. b. Place each automated external defibrillator on school grounds according to the guidelines established by the American heart association or an organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care. c. Identify each automated external defibrillator with appropriate signage.
5. A school, board of a school district and each individual member of the board, governing board and each individual governing board member of a nonpublic school, administrator, principal, teacher, school employee, and any member of the school district crisis management team, whether a student or an adult, are immune from any liability that might otherwise be incurred as a result of an injury caused by any act or omission while carrying out any elements of the cardiac emergency response plan as developed or implemented in accordance with this section.

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____________________________ Speaker of the House

____________________________ President of the Senate

____________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

____________________________ Secretary of the Senate

This certifies that the within bill originated in the House of Representatives of the Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota and is known on the records of that body as House Bill No. 1363.

House Vote: Senate Vote:

Yeas 91 Yeas 42

Nays 1 Nays 3

Absent 2 Absent 2

____________________________ Chief Clerk of the House
Received by the Governor at ________M. on _____________________________________, 2025. Approved at ________M. on __________________________________________________, 2025.

____________________________ Governor
Filed in this office this ___________day of _______________________________________, 2025, at ________ o’clock ________M.

____________________________ Secretary of State