ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
automated external
defibrillators
Purpose
Appropriates $250,000 in FY
2002-2003 from the emergency medical services operating fund to the Department
of Administration (DOA) to place automated external defibrillators (AED) in
existing state buildings and requires new state buildings and state buildings
undergoing major renovations to be equipped with AEDs.
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 2000, the Legislature
appropriated $50,000 in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the
emergency medical services operating fund to DOA for AEDs in government
buildings. S.B. 1070 requires AEDs to
be equipped in new state buildings and state buildings undergoing major renovations. In addition, the legislation appropriates an
additional $250,000 from the emergency medical services operating fund to DOA
to equip existing state buildings with AEDs.
According to Joint
Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) staff, if revenues are stable for FY
2002-2003, the emergency medical services operating fund will have sufficient
monies to maintain current expenditures only.
Additionally, JLBC has identified 42 renovation projects to state buildings
with costs above $50,000. Lastly, a new
state hospital is currently under construction and construction for a new state
laboratory is scheduled to begin in FY 2002-2003.
Provisions
1. Requires state buildings under construction or undergoing major renovations to be equipped with AEDs.
2. Requires, each fiscal year beginning in FY 2003-2004, JLBC and the Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting to include funding for AEDs in capital budgets for new state buildings.
3. Appropriates $250,000 in FY 2002-2003 from the emergency medical services operating fund to DOA for placing AEDs in existing state buildings. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.
4. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 18, 2002