STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Diegnan
SYNOPSIS
Requires public and nonpublic school athletic coaches to obtain certification in automated external defibrillator operation and first aid; updates requirements of emergency action plan for sports-related injury.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning sports-related injuries and amending P.L.2013, c.209 and P.L.2019, c.292.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 5 of P.L.2013, c.209 (C.18A:40-41i) is amended to read as follows:
5. A person who coaches a school district or nonpublic school athletic activity shall hold a current certification in [cardio-pulmonary] cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillator operation, and first aid from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or other training program recognized by the Department of Health.
(cf: P.L.2013, c.209, s.5)
2. Section 1 of P.L.2019, c.292 (C.18A:40-41.11) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. The board of education of a school district and the governing body or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school that includes any of the grades six through 12 shall establish and implement an emergency action plan for responding to a serious or potentially life-threatening sports-related injury. The plan shall document the proper procedures to be followed when a student sustains a serious injury while participating in sports or other athletic activity. The plan shall be specific to the activity site, and shall be developed in consultation with local emergency medical services personnel.
b. The emergency action plan established pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall include, but need not be limited to, the following components:
(1) a list of the employees, team coaches, and licensed athletic trainers in each school who are trained in first aid or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation;
(2) identification of the employees, team coaches, or licensed athletic trainers in each school who will be responsible for carrying out the emergency action plan and a description of their respective responsibilities;
(3) identification of any healthcare professionals who will provide medical care during games, practices, or other events;
(4) identification of the activity location or venue;
[(4)] (5) identification of the equipment and supplies that may be needed to respond to the emergency, including the location of each item; [and]
[(5)] (6) a description of the proper procedures to be followed after a student sustains a serious sports-related injury including, but not limited to, responding to the injured student, summoning emergency medical care, assisting emergency responders in getting to the injured student, and documenting the actions taken during the emergency; and
(7) appropriate contact information for emergency medical services and directions to access the venue.
c. The emergency action plan shall be reviewed annually and updated as necessary. The plan shall be rehearsed annually in each school by the individuals who will be responsible for executing the plan in an emergency.
(cf: P.L.2019, c.292, s.1)
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires an individual who coaches a school district or nonpublic school athletic activity to hold a current certification in automated external defibrillator (AED) operation and first aid from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or other training programs recognized by the Department of Health. Current law requires school athletic coaches to hold a current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
This bill also expands the scope of emergency action plans for responding to a sports-related injury by requiring identification of any healthcare professionals who will provide medical care during games, practices, or other events; and appropriate contact information for emergency medical services and directions to access the venue.