Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the New Mexico Legislature, fetched 2026-08-23. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official page appears here in brackets. This is the introduced version. The official bill page.
HOUSE BILL 256 57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026 INTRODUCED BY Pamelya Herndon and Yanira Gurrola and D. Wonda Johnson and Patricia Roybal Caballero AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL SAFETY; REQUIRING AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS TO BE AVAILABLE DURING ALL SCHOOL ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. Section 22-33-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2025, Chapter 129, Section 3) is amended to read: "22-33-6. CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN--AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR.-- A. Each school shall develop and implement a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel who are to respond to incidents involving a person experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds or during a school athletic activity. Each cardiac emergency response plan shall: (1) be developed and implemented using core elements that are nationally recognized and evidence-based; (2) identify specific school personnel who will take action when a person experiences a sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency; (3) establish protocols for school personnel identified by the cardiac emergency response plan to follow when a person experiences a sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency; (4) determine [an] appropriate [location] locations for [an] automated external [defibrillator] defibrillators to be installed or made available; (5) provide for routine maintenance of the automated external defibrillator; and (6) be updated when necessary to be consistent with evidence-based guidelines. B. Every school in the state shall install an automated external defibrillator. Installed automated external defibrillators shall be maintained and tested according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines. C. An automated external defibrillator shall be clearly marked and easily accessible during each school athletic activity. [C. No later than January 1, 2026] D. The department shall adopt and promulgate rules for the training of school employees on the use of automated external defibrillators in a manner consistent with standards adopted by the American heart association. [D.] E. The requirements of Subsections A and B of this section shall be fulfilled by all: (1) public non-charter high schools no later than the 2026-2027 school year; and (2) elementary schools, middle schools, charter schools and private schools no later than the 2027-2028 school year. F. As used in this section, "school athletic activity" means a sport or activity organized by a school or school district that involves a physical game or competition against another team, club or entity or practice or preparation for the physical game or competition." - 3 -
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