A5194

An Act establishing a pilot program on bleeding control in public schools.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. As used in this act:

“Governing body” means the board of education of a school district and a board of trustees of a charter school or renaissance school project.

“Program” means the pilot program established pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of this act.

“Public school” means a school, under college grade, which is operated by the governing body of a school district, charter school, or renaissance school project.

“School employee” means a school nurse, school resource officer, and teaching staff member employed by a governing body of a public school.

“School sponsored function” means any activity, event, or program occurring on school grounds, whether during or outside of regular school hours, that is organized or supported by the school.

2. a. The Commissioner of Education shall establish a one-year pilot program to provide public schools in the State with tourniquets and training in bleeding control techniques.

b. The governing body of a public school shall submit an application to the commissioner in a form and manner determined by the commissioner. An application submitted pursuant to this section shall include, at a minimum:

(1) the total number of public schools within the governing body’s jurisdiction;

(2) the total number of students enrolled in the each public school within the governing body’s jurisdiction;

(3) the total number of tourniquets sought by the governing body of the public school;

(4) the total number of school employees who will receive the training provided pursuant to section 3 of this act; and

(5) any other information the commissioner deems necessary.

c. Each governing body that submits a complete application to the commissioner pursuant to subsection b. of this section shall be approved for participation in the pilot program. The governing body of a public school participating in the program shall ensure that each public school within the governing body’s jurisdiction receives at least one tourniquet, which shall be located in an unlocked location on school property with an appropriate identifying sign. The tourniquet shall be accessible during the school day and any other time that a school-sponsored function is taking place in which pupils of the public school are participating.

3. a. The Department of Education shall provide training on the use of tourniquets and bleeding control techniques to school employees of governing bodies selected for participation in the pilot program established pursuant to section 2 of this act. The department may contract with a third party organization that is nationally recognized as having the expertise to meet the training requirements of this section.

b. The governing body of a public school shall ensure that school employees participate in the training provided pursuant to subsection a. of this section. The governing body of a public school may identify other employees of the public schools who may participate in a training course offered pursuant to subsection a. of this section.

4. At the conclusion of the pilot program, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature on the implementation of the pilot program. The report shall include the commissioner’s recommendation on implementing the program on a Statewide or permanent basis.

5. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes a one-year pilot program to provide public schools in the State with tourniquets and training in bleeding control techniques.

The governing body of a public school that is interested in participating in the pilot program is to submit an application to the commissioner in a form and manner determined by the commissioner and that includes certain information enumerated in the bill. Under the bill, each governing body that submits a complete application to the commissioner is to be approved for participation in the pilot program. The bill requires participating governing bodies to ensure that each public school within the governing body’s jurisdiction receives at least one tourniquet, which is to be located in an unlocked location on school property with an appropriate identifying sign. The tourniquet is to be accessible during the school day and any other time that a school-sponsored function is taking place.

The bill requires the Department of Education to provide training on the use of tourniquets and bleeding control techniques to school employees of governing bodies selected for participation in the pilot program. The bill permits the department to contract with a third party organization that is nationally recognized as having the expertise to meet the training requirements of this section. Under the bill, the governing body of a public school is to ensure that school employees participate in the training provided pursuant to the bill. The bill permits the governing body of a public school to identify other employees of the public schools who may participate in the training course offered under the bill.

Finally, the bill requires the commissioner, at the conclusion of the pilot program, to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature on the implementation of the program. The report is to include the commissioner’s recommendation on implementing the program on a Statewide or permanent basis.