An Act To Require Public Schools To Offer Instruction Related to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and the Use of an Automated External Defibrillator
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0556
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: POULIOT, MILLETT, DAUGHTRY, MAKER, TIPPING-SPITZ, DUTREMBLE
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6304

Legislative Document 
No. 556 
H.P. 380 
House of Representatives, February 26, 2015 
An Act To Require Public Schools To Offer Instruction Related to 
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and the Use of an Automated 
External Defibrillator 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative POULIOT of Augusta. 
Cosponsored by Senator MILLETT of Cumberland and 
Representatives: DAUGHTRY of Brunswick, MAKER of Calais, TIPPING-SPITZ of Orono, 
Senator: DUTREMBLE of York. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §6304, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 267, §1, is amended to 
read: 
§6304.  Automated external defibrillators and cardiopulmonary resuscitation 
School boards may place automated external defibrillators in occupied school 
buildings and at school athletic events.  School personnel and members of the public may 
receive training on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use automated 
external defibrillators in order to acquire the skills and confidence to respond to 
emergencies.  In accordance with rules adopted by the department, public schools shall 
offer training to students on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use 
automated external defibrillators.  Rules adopted under this section are routine technical 
rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 2.  Standards for instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and 
automated external defibrillator use.  The Commissioner of Education shall 
establish, by rule, standards for instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or "CPR," 
and automated external defibrillator, or "AED," use pursuant to the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, section 6304.  The commissioner shall base the standards for 
instruction in CPR and AED use on the programs established by the American Heart 
Association or the American Red Cross or another program that is nationally recognized 
and uses the most current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular guidelines 
and incorporates psychomotor skills development into the instruction.  The standards for 
instruction in AED use may not require the use of an AED but must include an 
explanation of AED use.  A licensed teacher may not be required to be certified as a CPR 
or AED trainer or to facilitate, provide or oversee CPR or AED instruction.  The rule 
must require that a course that results in CPR and AED certification must be taught by a 
certified CPR or AED instructor.  The rule must be designed to ensure that the 
requirements of Title 20-A, section 6304 can be met by a public school without the public 
school's being required to expand or modify its activity so as to necessitate additional 
expenditures from local revenues. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires public schools to offer training to students on how to perform 
cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use automated external defibrillators in accordance 
with rules adopted by the Department of Education.  The rules must be designed to ensure 
that the training requirements can be met without a public school's being required to 
expand or modify its activity so as to necessitate additional expenditures from local 
revenues.