Purpose

To improve safety for student athletes by ensuring trained response to cardiac emergencies. The bill adds a requirement for CPR and AED training for athletic staff who coach middle and high school sports, aiming to ensure coaches can effectively respond if someone needs CPR or a defibrillator.

Main Provisions

• Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, all middle school and high school athletic coaches and assistant coaches employed by a school district or charter school must obtain and maintain current training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
• After the initial training, coaches must receive ongoing training at least once every two calendar years.
• Training must be consistent with national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines.
• A coach who performs CPR or uses an AED as part of their job is not liable in a civil action for damages related to that action or omission, except in cases of gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

Significance and What It Means

• The bill expands the pool of school staff required to be CPR/AED trained, specifically targeting middle and high school athletic coaches and assistant coaches.
• It creates a formal timeline for initial training and regular refreshers to keep skills current.
• It provides legal protection for coaches acting in good faith during emergencies, reducing the fear of civil liability unless there is gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing.
• It ties training to the national, evidence-based guidelines for emergency cardiovascular care, aligning school requirements with widely recognized standards.

Timeline and Scope

• Scope: middle school and high school athletic coaches and assistant coaches employed by a Minnesota school district or charter school.
• Timeline: training must begin in the 2027-2028 school year and be renewed at least every two calendar years thereafter.
• Legal basis: the change is enacted by adding a subdivision to Minnesota Statutes 121A.241 (2025 Supplement).

Notable Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a new subdivision to Minnesota Statutes 121A.241 establishing CPR and AED training requirements for coaches and guarantees ongoing training cadence.
• Establishes civil liability protections for coaches who use CPR or an AED in the course of employment, with standard exceptions for gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

Implementation Considerations (Implicit)

• Methods for verifying compliance (training providers, documentation, and record-keeping).
• How “current training” and “ongoing basis” are defined and measured.
• Alignment with nationally recognized guidelines to ensure consistency across districts.

Related Terms and Concepts (for clarity)

• CPR: cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• AED: automated external defibrillator
• Training: initial CPR/AED training and refreshers every two years
• Applicants/Participants: high school and middle school athletic coaches and assistant coaches
• Employers: school districts and charter schools
• Guidelines: national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines
• Legal protections: civil action immunity, exception for gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct
• Related law: Minnesota Statutes 121A.241 (2025 Supplement)

Relevant Terms - CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, AED, automated external defibrillator, CPR training, AED training, training, high school, middle school, athletic coaches, assistant coaches, school district, charter school, civil action, liability, immunity, gross negligence, willful misconduct, willful or wanton misconduct, national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines, emergency cardiovascular care, Minnesota Statutes 121A.241, 2025 Supplement, 2027-2028 school year.