Senate Education Committee passes amended HB1363 requiring AED plans for school events, softens some mandates

The Senate Education Committee gave House Bill 1363 a do-pass recommendation as amended, voting 5-1 on the final motion. The bill addresses placement of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and related emergency planning for school activities; committee members approved multiple amendments that narrowed and clarified the bill's requirements.

Key actions: Senator Gearhart moved an amendment (forwarded from Mike Heilman) to revise the bill's language so AED-related requirements apply to school-owned facilities and grounds and to require schools to "develop a plan for school-based events that are not held on school owned facilities and grounds." That amendment passed 6-0. Later, Senator Gearhart moved to change a requirement on page 2, line 14, from "shall" to "may." Senator Lim seconded that motion; the committee approved the change 4-2. The committee then voted 5-1 to give the bill a do-pass recommendation as amended. Senator Moshe moved the final do-pass motion and Senator Axman seconded it.

What changed: Under the approved amendments, the bill replaces language that would have broadly required AEDs "at each school event, venue and event" with a requirement to place AEDs on school-owned facilities and grounds and to develop plans for school-based events held off-campus. Committee members said the revision aims to clarify responsibility when schools host events at third-party venues such as civic centers.

Concerns and context: At committee discussion, Senator Gearhart said he "still struggle[d] with kind of this mandate" and raised concerns about the bill's rigidity, citing examples such as lengthy marching-band parade routes and other off-campus events that may be difficult to cover under a strict mandate. A committee member noted the bill's Section 5 contains language addressing immunity from liability. Mike Heilman provided proposed language to the committee by email; legislators discussed whether the new subsection C should be limited to athletic events or left broader to cover other school activities such as music performances or parades.

Procedure and votes: The committee opened roll-call votes after debate. The amendment that replaced existing subsection C with the planning requirement passed 6-0. The motion to change "shall" to "may" passed 4-2. The final do-pass as amended motion passed 5-1. Senator Gearhart volunteered to carry the bill on the floor.

Ending: With the committee's recommendation, HB1363 will proceed to the full Senate with the amended language; the committee directed clerks and legislative counsel to incorporate the approved edits.