2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-3419/1
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June 11, 2025 - Introduced by Senators James and Wanggaard, cosponsored by Representatives Spiros, Pronschinske, Novak, Behnke, Franklin, Gustafson, B. Jacobson, Joers, Kaufert, Kreibich, Maxey, Melotik, Mursau, O'Connor, Piwowarczyk, Prado, Sinicki, Snyder and Subeck. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
SB317,1,3
1An Act to create 118.07 (6) of the statutes; relating to: requiring cardiac
2emergency response plans for cardiac emergencies that occur on school
3property or at school-sponsored athletic events. Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, this bill requires each school board and operator of a charter school to have in effect a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) for cardiac emergencies that occur on school property and a CERP for cardiac emergencies that occur at school-sponsored athletic practices and competitions. Under the bill, a CERP is a written document that contains specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in a specific setting. The bill also defines the core elements of a CERP, which include 1) a cardiac emergency response team, 2) a plan for activating the team in the event of a cardiac arrest, 3) distribution of the plan, 4) the incorporation of local emergency medical services into the plan, and 5) annual requirements to practice, review, and evaluate the plan.
Under the bill, a CERP for a cardiac emergency that occurs on school property must address the use of school personnel to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest event that occurs on school property. This type of CERP must 1) include the core elements, 2) provide requirements for automated external defibrillator (AED) placement and maintenance, and 3) require training in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and AED usage for certain school personnel.
Under the bill, a CERP for athletic events is required only if the school board or operator of a charter school operates the high school grades. A CERP for athletic events must address the use of coaches, athletic trainers, and other school personnel to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest event that occurs while an individual is attending or participating in a school-sponsored athletic practice or competition. This type of CERP must 1) include the core elements, 2) require that an AED is clearly marked and accessible in an unlocked location at each athletic venue during practices and competitions, and 3) require that each athletic coach employed by the school be certified in CPR and how to use an AED.
The bill also requires a school board or operator of a charter school, when developing a CERP, to consider recommendations by the American Heart Association, Project ADAM, or another nationally recognized organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care.
Finally, in the 2026-27 school year, the Office of School Safety in the Department of Justice may award grants for the purpose of assisting school boards and operators of charter schools to implement the CERPs required under the bill. The amount of a grant is based on the grade levels offered by the schools served by the CERPs. Under the bill, a school board or charter school is not required to comply with requirements in a CERP to place AEDs unless the OSS awards these grants.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SB317,1
1Section 1. 118.07 (6) of the statutes is created to read: SB317,2,22118.07 (6) (a) In this subsection: SB317,2,431. “Cardiac emergency response plan” means a written document that 4establishes specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in a specific setting. SB317,2,552. “Core elements” means all of the following: SB317,2,66a. A cardiac emergency response team. SB317,2,87b. A plan to activate the cardiac emergency response team in the event of a 8cardiac arrest. SB317,2,99c. Distribution of the cardiac emergency response plan on school grounds. SB317,3,2
1d. Information about automated external defibrillator placement and routine 2maintenance of automated external defibrillators. SB317,3,33e. Incorporation of local emergency medical services. SB317,3,44f. Annual practice of the cardiac emergency response plan using drills. SB317,3,55g. Annual review and evaluation of the cardiac emergency response plan. SB317,3,76h. Following each activation of the cardiac emergency response plan, a review 7of the cardiac emergency response plan and its implementation. SB317,3,148(b) Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, each school board and operator of a 9charter school shall have in effect a cardiac emergency response plan for each school 10under its control. A cardiac emergency response plan under this paragraph shall 11address appropriate use of school personnel to respond to an individual 12experiencing sudden cardiac arrest while on school property. A school board or 13operator of a charter school shall include in a cardiac emergency response plan 14under this paragraph at least all of the following: SB317,3,15151. The core elements. SB317,3,19162. Requirements for automated external defibrillator placement, including 17that each automated external defibrillator is placed in accordance with guidelines 18set by the American Heart Association or an organization focused on emergency 19cardiovascular care. SB317,3,24203. Ongoing training for identified school personnel in first aid, 21cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and automated external defibrillator use that 22follows guidelines set by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or 23another nationally recognized organization focused on emergency cardiovascular 24care. SB317,4,8
1(c) Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, each school board that operates the 2high school grades and operator of a charter school that operates the high school 3grades shall have in effect a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the 4appropriate use of coaches, athletic trainers, and other school personnel to respond 5to an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest while attending or 6participating in a school-sponsored athletic practice or competition. The school 7board or operator of a charter school shall include in each cardiac emergency 8response plan under this paragraph at least all of the following: SB317,4,991. The core elements. SB317,4,12102. That an automated external defibrillator placement be clearly marked and 11accessible in an unlocked location at each athletic venue during practices and 12competitions. SB317,4,17133. That each athletic coach employed by the school obtain and maintain 14certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator 15use that follows guidelines set by the American Heart Association, American Red 16Cross, or another nationally recognized organization focused on emergency 17cardiovascular care. SB317,4,2118(d) In developing a cardiac emergency response plan under par. (b) or (c), a 19school board or operator of a charter school shall consider recommendations by the 20American Heart Association, Project ADAM, or another nationally recognized 21organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care. SB317,5,322(e) Notwithstanding pars. (b) 2. and (c) 2., no school board or operator of a 23charter school is required to comply with a requirement in its cardiac emergency 24response plan under par. (b) or (c) to place an automated external defibrillator in
1accordance with the cardiac emergency response plan unless the office of school 2safety in the department of justice awards grants under 2025 Wisconsin Act .... (this 3act), section 2 (1). SB317,24Section 2. Nonstatutory provisions. SB317,5,55(1) Cardiac emergency response plan; implementation grants. SB317,5,96(a) In the 2026-27 school year, subject to par. (b), the office of school safety in 7the department of justice may award grants to school boards and operators of 8charter schools to comply with requirements under s. 118.07 (6). A recipient of a 9grant under this paragraph may use the amount received for any of the following: SB317,5,10101. Automated external defibrillators. SB317,5,11112. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. SB317,5,12123. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training supplies and materials. SB317,5,1713(b) The office of school safety in the department of justice shall determine the 14amount of a grant under par. (a) on the basis of the grade levels offered by the 15schools that are covered by the cardiac emergency response plans established under 16s. 118.07 (6). The office of school safety may not award a grant under par. (a) in an 17amount that is greater than the following: SB317,5,18181. For a high school, $8,000. SB317,5,19192. For a school that offers grades 6 to 8, $4,000. SB317,5,20203. For a school that offers only grades kindergarten to 5, $2,000.
