HB1398

House Bill 1398 requires all Arkansas schools to develop and implement a formal cardiac emergency response plan starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill mandates that these plans incorporate nationally recognized standards for managing sudden cardiac arrest on school grounds. Required components include establishing a response team, ensuring proper placement and maintenance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and conducting regular staff training in CPR and AED usage. Schools must also schedule annual practice drills and coordinate their plans with local emergency medical services. The legislation stipulates that these requirements must be integrated into each school's existing emergency operations plan no later than the 2026-2027 academic year. Additionally, the Department of Education is authorized to monitor school compliance with these new safety standards.