An Act To Require Automated External Defibrillators in Extracurricular Activities in Kindergarten to Grade 12
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1785
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: NORTON, BOWMAN, BLANCHETTE, BRYANT, GROSE, MAKAS, MUSE, SILSBY, SUTHERLAND
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6304

Legislative Document 
No. 1785 
H.P.1247 
House of Representatives, March 29, 2007 
An Act To Require Automated External Defibrillators in 
Extracurricular Activities in Kindergarten to Grade 12 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative NORTON of Bangor . 
Cosponsored by Senator BOWMAN of York and 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BLANCHETTE of Bangor, BRYANT of Windham, GROSE of Woolwich, 
MAKAS of Lewiston, MUSE of Fryeburg, SILSBY of Augusta, SUTHERLAND of Chapman. 
Printed nn recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6304 is enacted to read: 
§6304. Automated external defibrillators 
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1. Automated external defibrillators. A school administrative unit shall equip 
every school building in the unit's jurisdiction with an automated external defibrillator, 
referred to in this section as an "AED." An AED must be placed in an accessible, central 
location in the school building and be available for a secondary school athletic event 
inside or outside of the school building. A school administrative unit shall follow the 
requirements of Title 22, section 2150-C, subsection 3 in the possession, storage and use 
of an AED. For purposes of this section, "automated external defibrillator" has the same 
meaning as in Title 22, section 2150-C, subsection 1. 
2. 
Procedures regarding AEDs. A school administrative unit shall appoint a 
committee of unit employees to administer the requirements of this section. A committee 
created under this subsection shall develop and implement procedures for the storage and 
use of an AED. Procedures developed under this subsection must conform to American 
Heart Association and National Federation of State High School Associations 
requirements for AEDs. Procedures developed under this subsection must provide for: 
A. Informing all unit employees, students and the local municipal law enforcement 
agency, fire department and emergency response agency of the presence and location 
of the AED for each school building; 
B. The placement of clearly visible signage near each AED location and the quick 
and easy retrieval of an AED, which may not be locked or secured against public 
access; and 
C. Instructions for a unit employee or student to follow during a perceived sudden 
cardiac arrest emergency, including a written and verbal emergency response 
protocol to a perceived sudden cardiac arrest emergency, alerting an appropriate 
emergency response authority and listing the prohibitions involving the use of an 
AED as detailed in Title 22, section 2150-C, subsection 2. 
3. Immunity. The following are immune from civil liability for damages arising out 
of acts or omissions under this section relating to possession, storage or use of an AED or 
preparing for and responding to a perceived sudden cardiac arrest emergency, absent 
gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct: 
A. A person that acquires an AED; 
B. A person that owns, manages or is otherwise responsible for the premises on 
which an AED is located; 
C. A person authorized under Title 22, section 2150-C, subsection 2 who retrieves, 
uses, attempts to use or fails to use an AED in response to a perceived sudden cardiac 
arrest emergency; 
D. A physician or other authorized person who issues a prescription for the purchase 
of an AED; 
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E. A person that is involved with the design, management or operation of an AED 
program; and 
F. A person that provides instruction in the use of an AED. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires every school administrative unit to place an automated external 
defibrillator in each of the unit's school buildings and make it available for secondary 
school athletic events inside and outside the building. 
The bill requires the school 
administrative unit to place the defibrillator in an easily accessible location, notify 
employees, students and local emergency response agencies of its location and develop 
procedures for the possession, storage and use of the defibrillator and for perceived 
sudden cardiac arrest emergencies. This bill also provides immunity for people who 
possess, store and use an automated external defibrillator under the provisions of the bill. 
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