INDIANAPOLIS – Several state legislatures are considering legislation related to automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Indiana’s Senate Health and Provider Services Committee introduced a bill early last month requiring all health clubs to have an AED.
The bill (Senate Bill 134) also requires health clubs to employ at least one person trained to use an AED, have that person at the health club during business hours and ensure compliance with other defibrillator requirements. The bill, however, does not include liability protection.
Connecticut and Hawaii are also considering similar AED bills, but both of those bills would have liability protection.
New Jersey, Michigan, California, Oregon, Rhode Island, Louisiana, New York, Arkansas and Illinois have recently passed legislation mandating the placement of AEDs in health clubs. New York also introduced a bill that would increase the tax credit for the purchase of an AED from $500 to $1,500.