An Act To Require Defibrillators in All Health Club Gyms
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1073
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: CASAVANT, SULLIVAN, BOLDUC, GRAHAM, ROCHELO, SANBORN, TUTTLE
Amends: 22 MRSA §2150-C

Legislative Document 
No. 1073 
H.P. 808 
House of Representatives, March 15, 2011 
An Act To Require Defibrillators in All Health Club Gyms 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative CASAVANT of Biddeford. 
Cosponsored by Senator SULLIVAN of York and 
Representatives: BOLDUC of Auburn, GRAHAM of North Yarmouth, ROCHELO of 
Biddeford, SANBORN of Gorham, TUTTLE of Sanford. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §2150-C, as repealed and replaced by PL 2007, c. 267, §2, is 
amended to read: 
§2150-C.  Automated external defibrillators 
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A.  "Automated external defibrillator" or "AED" means a medical device that 
combines a heart monitor and a defibrillator approved by the United States Food and 
Drug Administration that: 
(1)  Is capable of recognizing the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation or 
rapid ventricular tachycardia; 
(2)  Is capable of determining, without intervention by an operator, whether 
defibrillation should be performed on an individual; and 
(3)  Upon determination that defibrillation should be performed, automatically 
charges and requests delivery of an electrical impulse to an individual's heart. 
6.  Immunity.  The following persons and entities are immune from civil liability for 
damages relating to the use, possession or purchase of an AED and arising out of acts or 
omissions relating to preparing for and responding to suspected sudden cardiac arrest 
emergencies absent gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct: 
A.  Any person or entity that acquires an AED; 
B.  Any person or entity that owns, manages or is otherwise responsible for the 
premises on which an AED is located; 
C.  Any person who retrieves an AED in response to a perceived sudden cardiac 
arrest emergency; 
D.  Any person who uses, attempts to use or fails to use an AED in response to a 
perceived sudden cardiac arrest emergency; 
E.  Any physician or other authorized person who issues a prescription for the 
purchase of an AED; 
F.  Any person or entity that is involved with the design, management or operation of 
an AED program; and 
G.  Any person or entity that provides instruction in the use of an AED. 
7.  Health clubs and gymnasiums.  A health club, gymnasium or other place of 
exercise and health shall place AEDs in occupied  buildings and at athletic events. The 
Department of Public Safety shall provide training in the use and operation of the AED to 
health club and gymnasium personnel, and to members of the public who choose to 
receive training on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of AEDs in 
order to acquire the skills and confidence to respond to emergencies. 
8.  Rules.  The commissioner shall adopt rules to implement this section.  Rules 
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides that health clubs and gymnasiums and other places of exercise and 
health must have automated external defibrillators in place, and requires personnel of the 
health clubs and gymnasiums to be trained in the use of automated external defibrillators.