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H.B. 31 Enrolled

             1     

UTAH SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST SURVIVAL

             2     
ACT

             3     
2009 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Carl Wimmer

             6     
Senate Sponsor: D. Chris Buttars

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill enacts the Utah Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survival Act and amends civil liability
             11      immunity provisions relating to the act.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    defines terms;
             15          .    provides for expiration of the automatic external defibrillator (AED) statewide
             16      database on September 1, 2009, and replaces it with local systems operated by
             17      emergency medical dispatch centers;
             18          .    permits a person to administer CPR or use an AED on a person reasonably believed
             19      to be in sudden cardiac arrest:
             20              .    without a license or certificate; and
             21              .    regardless of whether the person is trained to administer CPR or to use an AED;
             22          .    provides immunity from civil liability for certain acts or omissions relating to
             23      administering CPR, operating, designing, or managing a CPR or AED program, or
             24      providing instructions or training, or taking other specified action, in relation to
             25      CPR or AEDs, unless the actions constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct;
             26          .    provides that this bill does not relieve a manufacturer, designer, developer,
             27      marketer, or commercial distributor from liability relating to an AED or an AED
             28      accessory;
             29          .    requires a person who owns or leases an AED to report certain information,


             30      including the location of, or removal of, the AED, to the emergency medical dispatch center
             31      that provides emergency dispatch services for that area;
             32          .    describes the duties of an emergency medical dispatch center to disclose
             33      information relating to the location of an AED;
             34          .    describes the duties of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and a person
             35      who owns or leases an AED in relation to providing education and training on the
             36      administration of CPR and the use of an AED; and
             37          .    makes technical changes.
             38      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             39          None
             40      Other Special Clauses:
             41          None
             42      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             43      AMENDS:
             44          26-8a-209, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2003, Chapter 53
             45          26-8a-301, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1999, Chapter 141
             46          26-8a-308, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2000, Chapter 62
             47          26-8a-502, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2000, Chapter 1
             48          26-8a-601, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2002, Fifth Special Session, Chapter 8
             49      ENACTS:
             50          26-8b-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             51          26-8b-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             52          26-8b-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             53          26-8b-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             54          26-8b-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             55          26-8b-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             56          26-8b-303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             57          26-8b-401, Utah Code Annotated 1953


             58     
             59      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             60          Section 1. Section 26-8a-209 is amended to read:
             61           26-8a-209. Fully automated external defibrillator statewide database.
             62          [(1) The department shall work in cooperation with state, federal, and local agencies to
             63      encourage individuals to complete a course that includes instruction on cardiopulmonary
             64      resuscitation and the operation and use of a fully automated external defibrillator that is
             65      conducted in accordance with guidelines of the American Heart Association, American Red
             66      Cross, or other nationally recognized program by a person qualified by training or experience.]
             67          [(2) The] (1) Except as provided in Subsection (4), the department shall establish and
             68      maintain a statewide database containing the following information:
             69          (a) the name of the owner of a fully automated external defibrillator; and
             70          (b) the precise location of the fully automated external defibrillator, including the
             71      address and the place in which the defibrillator is stored.
             72          [(3)] (2) Except as provided in Subsection (4):
             73          (a) [The] the department shall give the information from the database to emergency
             74      medical service dispatch centers in the state[.]; and
             75          (b) [Emergency] emergency medical dispatch centers in the state may disclose the
             76      nearest location of a fully automated external defibrillator to a person calling the dispatch
             77      center in the event of a medical emergency and to first responders in an emergency.
             78          [(4) (a) Manufacturers selling fully automated external defibrillators in the state shall:]
             79          [(i) inform commercial purchasers in writing of the requirement to register the
             80      ownership and location of the fully automated external defibrillator with the department;]
             81          [(ii) provide to the purchaser of a fully automated external defibrillator all information
             82      governing the use, installation, operation, training, and maintenance of the fully automated
             83      external defibrillator; and]
             84          [(iii) on a quarterly basis, notify the department of the name and address of a
             85      commercial purchaser of a fully automated external defibrillator and the type of device


             86      purchased.]
             87          [(b)] (3) Except as provided in Subsection (4):
             88          [(i) A] (a) a commercial owner of a fully automated external defibrillator shall register
             89      the ownership and precise location of the defibrillator with the department within 30 days of
             90      acquisition of the defibrillator[.];
             91          [(ii) An] (b) an owner of a fully automated external defibrillator purchased for use in
             92      a private residence may register the ownership and precise location of the defibrillator with the
             93      department[.]; and
             94          (c) [The] the department may not impose penalties on a manufacturer or an owner of a
             95      fully automated external defibrillator for failing to comply with the requirements of this
             96      section.
             97          (4) Beginning on September 1, 2009:
             98          (a) the provisions of this section are no longer in effect; and
             99          (b) the provisions of Title 26, Chapter 8b, Utah Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survival Act,
             100      supercede the provisions of this section.
             101          (5) On or before August 1, 2009, the department shall provide to each emergency
             102      medical dispatch center, as defined in Section 26-8b-102 , all information contained in the
             103      statewide database that pertains to the area for which the emergency medical dispatch center
             104      provides emergency dispatch services.
             105          (6) Beginning on the date that the department provides the information required under
             106      Subsection (5), and continuing on a weekly basis until September 1, 2009, the department
             107      shall provide any additional information that it receives for the statewide database to the
             108      emergency medical dispatch centers described in Subsection (5).
             109          Section 2. Section 26-8a-301 is amended to read:
             110           26-8a-301. General requirement.
             111          (1) Except as provided in Section 26-8a-308 or 26-8b-201 :
             112          (a) an individual may not provide emergency medical services without a certificate
             113      issued under Section 26-8a-302 ;


             114          (b) a facility or provider may not hold itself out as a designated emergency medical
             115      service provider without a designation issued under Section 26-8a-303 ;
             116          (c) a vehicle may not operate as an ambulance or emergency response vehicle without
             117      a permit issued under Section 26-8a-304 ; and
             118          (d) an entity may not respond as an ambulance or paramedic provider without the
             119      appropriate license issued under Part 4, Ambulance and Paramedic Providers.
             120          (2) Section 26-8a-502 applies to violations of this section.
             121          Section 3. Section 26-8a-308 is amended to read:
             122           26-8a-308. Exemptions.
             123          (1) The following persons may provide emergency medical services to a patient
             124      without being certified or licensed under this chapter:
             125          (a) out-of-state emergency medical service personnel and providers in time of disaster;
             126          (b) an individual who gratuitously acts as a Good Samaritan;
             127          (c) a family member;
             128          (d) a private business if emergency medical services are provided only to employees at
             129      the place of business and during transport;
             130          (e) an agency of the United States government if compliance with this chapter would
             131      be inconsistent with federal law; and
             132          (f) police, fire, and other public service personnel if:
             133          (i) emergency medical services are rendered in the normal course of the person's
             134      duties; and
             135          (ii) medical control, after being apprised of the circumstances, directs immediate
             136      transport.
             137          (2) An ambulance or emergency response vehicle may operate without a permit issued
             138      under Section 26-8a-304 in time of disaster.
             139          (3) Nothing in this chapter or Title 58, Occupations and Professions, may be construed
             140      as requiring a license or certificate for an individual to [perform] administer cardiopulmonary
             141      resuscitation [and] or to use a fully automated external defibrillator [if that individual has


             142      successfully completed a course that includes instruction on cardiopulmonary resuscitation
             143      and the operation and use of a fully automated external defibrillator that is conducted in
             144      accordance with guidelines of the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or other
             145      nationally recognized program by a person qualified by training or experience] under Section
             146      26-8b-201 .
             147          (4) Nothing in this chapter may be construed as requiring a license, permit,
             148      designation, or certificate for an acute care hospital, medical clinic, physician's office, or other
             149      fixed medical facility that:
             150          (a) is staffed by a physician, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner, or registered
             151      nurse; and
             152          (b) treats an individual who has presented himself or was transported to the hospital,
             153      clinic, office, or facility.
             154          Section 4. Section 26-8a-502 is amended to read:
             155           26-8a-502. Illegal activity.
             156          (1) Except as provided in Section 26-8a-308 or 26-8b-201 , a person may not:
             157          (a) practice or engage in the practice, represent himself to be practicing or engaging in
             158      the practice, or attempt to practice or engage in the practice of any activity that requires a
             159      license, certification, or designation under this chapter unless that person is so licensed,
             160      certified, or designated; or
             161          (b) offer an emergency medical service that requires a license, certificate, or
             162      designation unless the person is so licensed, certified, or designated.
             163          (2) A person may not advertise or hold himself out as one holding a license,
             164      certification, or designation required under this chapter, unless that person holds the license,
             165      certification, or designation.
             166          (3) A person may not employ or permit any employee to perform any service for which
             167      a license or certificate is required by this chapter, unless the person performing the service
             168      possesses the required license or certificate.
             169          (4) A person may not wear, display, sell, reproduce, or otherwise use any Utah


             170      Emergency Medical Services insignia without authorization from the department.
             171          (5) A person may not reproduce or otherwise use materials developed by the
             172      department for certification or recertification testing or examination without authorization
             173      from the department.
             174          (6) A person may not willfully summon an ambulance or emergency response vehicle
             175      or report that one is needed when such person knows that the ambulance or emergency
             176      response vehicle is not needed.
             177          (7) A person who violates this section is subject to Section 26-23-6 .
             178          Section 5. Section 26-8a-601 is amended to read:
             179           26-8a-601. Persons and activities exempt from civil liability.
             180          (1) [A] (a) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), a licensed physician, physician's
             181      assistant, or licensed registered nurse who, gratuitously and in good faith, gives oral or written
             182      instructions to any of the following is not liable for any civil damages as a result of issuing the
             183      instructions:
             184          (i) an individual certified under Section 26-8a-302 [or];
             185          (ii) a person [permitted to use] who uses a fully automated external defibrillator
             186      [because of Section 26-8a-308 is not liable for any civil damages as a result of issuing the
             187      instructions, unless], as defined in Section 26-8b-102 ; or
             188          (iii) a person who administers CPR, as defined in Section 26-8b-102 .
             189          (b) The liability protection described in Subsection (1)(a) does not apply if the
             190      instructions given were the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
             191          (2) An individual certified under Section 26-8a-302 , during either training or after
             192      certification, a licensed physician, physician's assistant, or a registered nurse who,
             193      gratuitously and in good faith, provides emergency medical instructions or renders emergency
             194      medical care authorized by this chapter is not liable for any civil damages as a result of any act
             195      or omission in providing the emergency medical instructions or medical care, unless the act or
             196      omission is the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
             197          (3) An individual certified under Section 26-8a-302 is not subject to civil liability for


             198      failure to obtain consent in rendering emergency medical services authorized by this chapter to
             199      any individual who is unable to give his consent, regardless of the individual's age, where
             200      there is no other person present legally authorized to consent to emergency medical care,
             201      provided that the certified individual acted in good faith.
             202          (4) A principal, agent, contractor, employee, or representative of an agency,
             203      organization, institution, corporation, or entity of state or local government that sponsors,
             204      authorizes, supports, finances, or supervises any functions of an individual certified under
             205      Section 26-8a-302 is not liable for any civil damages for any act or omission in connection
             206      with such sponsorship, authorization, support, finance, or supervision of the certified
             207      individual where the act or omission occurs in connection with the certified individual's
             208      training or occurs outside a hospital where the life of a patient is in immediate danger, unless
             209      the act or omission is inconsistent with the training of the certified individual, and unless the
             210      act or omission is the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
             211          (5) A physician who gratuitously and in good faith arranges for, requests,
             212      recommends, or initiates the transfer of a patient from a hospital to a critical care unit in
             213      another hospital is not liable for any civil damages as a result of such transfer where:
             214          (a) sound medical judgment indicates that the patient's medical condition is beyond
             215      the care capability of the transferring hospital or the medical community in which that hospital
             216      is located; and
             217          (b) the physician has secured an agreement from the receiving facility to accept and
             218      render necessary treatment to the patient.
             219          (6) A person who is a registered member of the National Ski Patrol System (NSPS) or
             220      a member of a ski patrol who has completed a course in winter emergency care offered by the
             221      NSPS combined with CPR for medical technicians offered by the American Red Cross or
             222      American Heart Association, or an equivalent course of instruction, and who in good faith
             223      renders emergency care in the course of ski patrol duties is not liable for civil damages as a
             224      result of any act or omission in rendering the emergency care, unless the act or omission is the
             225      result of gross negligence or willful misconduct.


             226          (7) An emergency medical service provider who, in good faith, transports an
             227      individual against his will but at the direction of a law enforcement officer pursuant to Section
             228      62A-15-629 is not liable for civil damages for transporting the individual.
             229          [(8) A person who is permitted to use a fully automated external defibrillator because
             230      of Section 26-8a-308 is not liable for civil damages as a result of any act or omission related to
             231      the use of the defibrillator in providing emergency medical care gratuitously and in good faith
             232      to a person who reasonably appears to be in cardiac arrest, unless the act or omission is the
             233      result of gross negligence or wilful misconduct.]
             234          Section 6. Section 26-8b-101 is enacted to read:
             235     
CHAPTER 8b. UTAH SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST SURVIVAL ACT

             236     
Part 1. General Provisions

             237          26-8b-101. Title.
             238          This chapter is known as the "Utah Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survival Act."
             239          Section 7. Section 26-8b-102 is enacted to read:
             240          26-8b-102. Definitions.
             241          As used in this chapter:
             242          (1) "Automatic external defibrillator" or "AED" means an automated or automatic
             243      computerized medical device that:
             244          (a) has received pre-market notification approval from the United States Food and
             245      Drug Administration, pursuant to Section 360(k), Title 21 of the United States Code;
             246          (b) is capable of recognizing the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation or rapid
             247      ventricular tachycardia;
             248          (c) is capable of determining, without intervention by an operator, whether
             249      defibrillation should be performed; and
             250          (d) upon determining that defibrillation should be performed, automatically charges,
             251      enabling delivery of an electrical impulse through the chest wall and to a person's heart.
             252          (2) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, within the
             253      department.


             254          (3) "Cardiopulmonary resuscitation" or "CPR" means artificial ventilation or external
             255      chest compression applied to a person who is in respiratory or cardiac arrest.
             256          (4) "Emergency medical dispatch center" means a public safety answering point, as
             257      defined in Section 63C-7-103 , that is designated as an emergency medical dispatch center by
             258      the bureau.
             259          (5) "Sudden cardiac arrest" means a life-threatening condition that results when a
             260      person's heart stops or fails to produce a pulse.
             261          Section 8. Section 26-8b-201 is enacted to read:
             262     
Part 2. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automatic External Defibrillators

             263          26-8b-201. Authority to administer CPR or use an AED.
             264          (1) A person may administer CPR on another person without a license, certificate, or
             265      other governmental authorization if the person reasonably believes that the other person is in
             266      sudden cardiac arrest.
             267          (2) A person may use an AED on another person without a license, certificate, or other
             268      governmental authorization if the person reasonably believes that the other person is in sudden
             269      cardiac arrest.
             270          Section 9. Section 26-8b-202 is enacted to read:
             271          26-8b-202. Immunity.
             272          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (3), the following persons are not subject to civil
             273      liability for any act or omission relating to preparing to care for, responding to care for, or
             274      providing care to, another person who reasonably appears to be in sudden cardiac arrest:
             275          (a) a person authorized, under Section 26-8b-201 , to administer CPR, who:
             276          (i) gratuitously and in good faith attempts to administer or administers CPR to another
             277      person; or
             278          (ii) fails to administer CPR to another person;
             279          (b) a person authorized, under Section 26-8b-201 , to use an AED who:
             280          (i) gratuitously and in good faith attempts to use or uses an AED; or
             281          (ii) fails to use an AED;


             282          (c) a person that teaches or provides a training course in administering CPR or using
             283      an AED;
             284          (d) a person that acquires an AED;
             285          (e) a person that owns, manages, or is otherwise responsible for the premises or
             286      conveyance where an AED is located;
             287          (f) a person who retrieves an AED in response to a perceived or potential sudden
             288      cardiac arrest;
             289          (g) a person that authorizes, directs, or supervises the installation or provision of an
             290      AED;
             291          (h) a person involved with, or responsible for, the design, management, or operation of
             292      a CPR or AED program;
             293          (i) a person involved with, or responsible for, reporting, receiving, recording,
             294      updating, giving, or distributing information relating to the ownership or location of an AED
             295      under Part 3, AED Databases; or
             296          (j) a physician who gratuitously and in good faith:
             297          (i) provides medical oversight for a public AED program; or
             298          (ii) issues a prescription for a person to acquire or use an AED.
             299          (2) This section does not relieve a manufacturer, designer, developer, marketer, or
             300      commercial distributor of an AED, or an accessory for an AED, of any liability.
             301          (3) The liability protection described in Subsection (1) does not apply to an act or
             302      omission that constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct.
             303          Section 10. Section 26-8b-301 is enacted to read:
             304     
Part 3. AED Databases

             305          26-8b-301. Reporting location of automatic external defibrillators.
             306          (1) Beginning on September 1, 2009, in accordance with Subsection (2) and except as
             307      provided in Subsection (3):
             308          (a) a person who owns or leases an AED shall report the person's name, address, and
             309      telephone number, and the exact location of the AED, in writing, to the emergency medical


             310      dispatch center that provides emergency dispatch services for the location where the AED is
             311      installed, if the person:
             312          (i) installs the AED;
             313          (ii) causes the AED to be installed; or
             314          (iii) allows the AED to be installed; and
             315          (b) a person who owns or leases an AED that is removed from a location where it is
             316      installed shall report the person's name, address, and telephone number, and the exact location
             317      from which the AED is removed, in writing, to the emergency medical dispatch center that
             318      provides emergency dispatch services for the location from which the AED is removed, if the
             319      person:
             320          (i) removes the AED;
             321          (ii) causes the AED to be removed; or
             322          (iii) allows the AED to be removed.
             323          (2) A report required under Subsection (1) shall be made within 30 days after the day
             324      on which the AED is installed or removed.
             325          (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to an AED that is installed in, or removed from, a
             326      private residence.
             327          (4) Beginning on September 1, 2009, a person who owns or leases an AED that is
             328      installed in, or removed from, a private residence may voluntarily report the location of, or
             329      removal of, the AED to the emergency medical dispatch center that provides emergency
             330      dispatch services for the location where the private residence is located.
             331          (5) The department may not impose a penalty on a person for failing to comply with
             332      the requirements of this section.
             333          Section 11. Section 26-8b-302 is enacted to read:
             334          26-8b-302. Distributors to notify of reporting requirements.
             335          A person in the business of selling or leasing an AED shall, at the time the person
             336      provides, sells, or leases an AED to another person, notify the other person, in writing, of the
             337      reporting requirements described in Section 26-8b-301 .


             338          Section 12. Section 26-8b-303 is enacted to read:
             339          26-8b-303. Duties of emergency medical dispatch centers.
             340          Beginning on September 1, 2009, an emergency medical dispatch center shall:
             341          (1) implement a system to receive and manage the information reported to the
             342      emergency medical dispatch center under Section 26-8a-209 or 26-8b-301 ;
             343          (2) record in the system described in Subsection (1), all information received under
             344      Section 26-8a-209 or 26-8b-301 as follows:
             345          (a) if the information is received under Subsection 26-8a-209 (5), within 30 days after
             346      the day on which the information is received; or
             347          (b) if the information is received under Subsection 26-8a-209 (6) or Section
             348      26-8b-301 , within 14 days after the day on which the information is received;
             349          (3) inform a person who calls to report a potential incident of sudden cardiac arrest of
             350      the location of any nearby AED; and
             351          (4) provide the information contained in the system described in Subsection (1), upon
             352      request, to:
             353          (a) the bureau; or
             354          (b) another emergency medical dispatch center.
             355          Section 13. Section 26-8b-401 is enacted to read:
             356     
Part 4. Education and Training

             357          26-8b-401. Education and training.
             358          (1) The bureau shall work in cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies and
             359      schools, to encourage individuals to complete courses on the administration of CPR and the
             360      use of an AED.
             361          (2) A person who owns or leases an AED shall encourage each person who is likely to
             362      use the AED to complete courses on the administration of CPR and the use of an AED.


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