STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2806

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2610

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2610, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require that automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and personnel trained to use them be available at public educational facilities and sporting events.

     Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Requires that, by the end of the 2015-2016 school year, AEDs be available on the campuses of all public schools and public charter schools, and all divisions and campuses of the University of Hawaii system;

     (2)  Requires that athletic trainers or faculty members be trained in the use of AEDs and be present at every public school, public charter school, and University of Hawaii sporting event;

     (3)  Requires that the educational institutions subject to this measure maintain and test the mandated AEDs on their campuses pursuant to manufacturers' guidelines;

     (4)  Provides that an athletic trainer or faculty member who administers an AED pursuant to this measure shall be considered to be doing so without remuneration or expectation thereof;

     (5)  Establishes an AED working group to develop policies, procedures, and best practices related to the use of AEDs at public schools, charter schools, and the University of Hawaii; and

     (6)  Appropriates unspecified sums to the Department of Education and University of Hawaii for the purchase and maintenance of AEDs and related training.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, AED Institute of America, Inc., and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that properly operated and maintained AEDs save lives and should be available on all public school, public charter school, and University of Hawaii campuses and at related sporting events, along with trained personnel.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying the structure and membership of the AED working group to be established by this measure;

     (2)  Changing the amount of the appropriations to unspecified sums; and

     (3)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2610, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2610, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair