ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
appropriations; government
building defibrillators
Purpose
Appropriates $50,000 in FY
2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the state general fund to the Department of
Administration (DOA) for automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in government
buildings.
Background
According to the National
Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), more than 250,000 people die of sudden
cardiac arrest each year. The key to
survival is timely initiation of a “chain of survival,” which includes
cardiopulmonary resuscitation and early defibrillation. Recent technological advances have made AEDs
portable lifesaving devices that are easier to use and maintain, smaller, lightweight
and lower in cost.
AEDs automatically analyze a
cardiac arrest victim’s heart rhythm and make a decision to defibrillate the
patient. The device guides the user
through the process by audible or visual prompts without requiring any discretion
or judgment. The American Heart
Association estimates that at least 20,000 lives could be saved annually by
prompt use of AEDs.
In 1999, the Legislature
allowed limited use of AEDs by the general public by prescribing training and
use requirements for AEDs in this state.
According to NCSL, by January 2001, 49 states had enacted defibrillator
laws or adopted regulations for the lay person use of AEDs. In November 2000, Congress approved the
Cardiac Arrest Survival Act that requires the Department of Health and Human
Services to make recommendations for the placement of AEDs in federal buildings
in order to improve survival rates of individuals who experience cardiac arrest
in such buildings. In addition, Congress
passed the Rural Access to Emergency Devices Act that authorizes the
expenditure of up to $25 million in federal funds to help rural communities
purchase AEDs and to train rural emergency response crews, including police and
fire personnel, to use the devices.
H.B. 2535 attempts to increase the availability of AEDs in government
buildings by appropriating $50,000 in each year of the biennium to DOA to make
recommendations for and to place AEDs in state and local government buildings.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $50,000 in FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the state general fund to DOA for AEDs in government buildings. Exempts the appropriations from lapsing.
2. Requires DOA to consult with the Department of Health Services and the American Heart Association to determine the best locations for placement of the AEDs.
3. Requires DOA to consider specific criteria for the placement and training for the use of AEDs.
4. Requires DOA to submit a report on the criteria for AED placement and training to the Governor and Legislature by November 1, 2001.
5. Prohibits DOA from dispersing monies for the AEDs until the report is complete.
6. Provides for a general effective date.
House Action
PIRA 2/6/01 DPA 7-0-0-3
APPROP 3/6/01 DPA 13-0-0-3
3rd Read 3/14/01 46-8-6-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 22, 2001