Local Bill Aims to Make Schools Defibrillators More Common

The following was submitted for publication by the office of Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez:

Assemblywoman Melissa A. Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, announced Wednesday her bill to protect school children passed off of the Assembly Floor with unanimous support.

Assembly Bill 2217 would protect school districts and their employees from civil damages for using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in the event of an emergency.

“When I was elected into office, I made a promise to my constituents and to the people of California,” Melendez said. “That promise was to ensure the safety of all Californians, especially our state’s most vulnerable, our children.”

Many school districts are reluctant to acquire AEDs because existing law does not clearly protect them from civil damages if an AED is used in good faith. With the passage of AB 2217, children will be in even better hands when they are at school.

“Nearly 6,000 children die each year as a result of sudden cardiac arrest,” said Melendez. “This bill removes barriers for school districts to obtain AEDs and in doing so will save countless lives.”

AB 2217 will now head to the Governor’s desk for his final approval.

Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez represents the 67th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar and a portion of Hemet. It also includes the Riverside County unincorporated areas of Lake Mathews, Good Hope, Nuevo, and Winchester.

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