HB 739 Summary

• Requires each public school in Florida to have an operational automated external defibrillator on school grounds and mandates training for employees and volunteers expected to use the device.

• Expands notification requirements for automated external defibrillator locations to local emergency medical services medical directors and public safety answering points, with medical directors required to maintain registries of these devices.

• Authorizes 911 public safety telecommunicators to contact private owners of registered automated external defibrillators during confirmed coronary emergency calls if the emergency location is within reasonable distance of a defibrillator.

• Directs the State Surgeon General to adopt rules establishing guidelines for appropriate placement and deployment of automated external defibrillators in state buildings and places of public assembly (venues with seating capacity of at least 1,000 people).

• Clarifies that guidelines do not mandate placement in places of public assembly, do not establish legal standards of care in civil actions, and permit local governments to enact stricter requirements.