---
title: HB 629. Education; remove requirement of having a licensed physician in automated external defibrillator programs
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb629
cite_as: HB 629, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb629
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb629.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb629/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70806
date: 2026-03-31
status: engrossed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 943
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb629.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 629
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-06
last_action: Senate Tabled
sponsors:
  - Lee Hawkins
  - Sharon Cooper
  - Mark Newton
  - Gerald Greene
  - Karen Mathiak
  - Chuck Payne
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB629/2025
upstream_id: 1986090
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - school safety
  - student health
  - defibrillators
  - teacher planning time
  - emergency preparedness
---

# HB 629. Education; remove requirement of having a licensed physician in automated external defibrillator programs

## Text

The Senate Committee on Education and Youth offered the following
substitute to HB 629:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to student health, so as to remove the requirement of having a licensed
physician in automated external defibrillator programs; to provide instruction and procedures
related to bleeding control kits; to provide a definition; to provide for contingent
effectiveness upon appropriation of funds; to amend Code Section 20-2-218 of the Official
Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to duty-free lunch period and planning period required,
exemption for extenuating circumstances, and funding, so as to provide that said Code
section shall not be subject to waiver; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to student health, is amended by revising Code Section 20-2-775, relating to
automated external defibrillators required in high schools, requirements, and funding, as
follows:
"20-2-775.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Automated external defibrillator' means a defibrillator which:
(A) Is capable of cardiac rhythm analysis;
(B) Will charge and be capable of being activated to deliver a countershock after
electrically detecting the presence of certain cardiac dysrhythmias; and
(C) Is capable of continuously recording cardiac dysrhythmia at the scene with a
mechanism for transfer and storage or for printing for review subsequent to use.
<ins>(2) 'Bleeding control kit' means a kit used to stop or slow bleeding in emergencies that
is approved by the American College of Surgeons and may be obtained through the
Georgia Trauma Commission Bleeding Control Kit Program.
</ins> <del>(2)(3)</del> 'Emergency action plan' means the plan established pursuant to <del>paragraph (5)
</del> <ins>paragraph (7)</ins> of subsection (c) of this Code section to provide for an emergency response
to <del>a</del> <ins>any</ins> person in cardiac arrest <ins>or experiencing severe bleeding.
</ins> <del>(3)(4)</del> 'Internal response team' means the team of school personnel established pursuant
to <del>paragraph (7)</del> <ins>paragraph (9)</ins> of subsection (c) of this Code section responsible for
oversight of an emergency response to <del>a</del> <ins>any</ins> person in cardiac arrest <ins>or experiencing
severe bleeding</ins> and implementation of the emergency action plan.
<del>(4)(5)</del> 'School' means a public school in this state which provides K-12 education.
(b) No later than July 1, 2025, each school in this state shall have at least one functional
automated external defibrillator on site at such school at all times and easily accessible
during all school hours and during any school related function, including athletic practices,
athletic competitions, and other occasions where students and others will be present, for
use during emergencies.
(c) Each school shall:
(1) Ensure that each member of the internal response team and any other expected users
of the automated external defibrillator receive American Heart Association or American
Red Cross training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator
use or complete an equivalent nationally recognized course;
<ins>(2) Ensure that each member of the internal response team and any other expected users
of the bleeding control kit utilize an instructional or training program established by the
American College of Surgeons for stopping bleeding and the use of a bleeding control kit;
</ins> <del>(2)(3)</del> Notify the appropriate emergency medical services system of the existence and
location of each automated external defibrillator prior to <del>said</del> <ins>such</ins> automated external
defibrillator being placed in use;
<ins>(4) Notify the appropriate emergency medical services system of the existence and
location of each bleeding control kit prior to such bleeding control kit being placed in
use;
</ins> <del>(3)(5)</del> Ensure that the automated external defibrillator is maintained and tested according
to the manufacturer's operational guidelines;
<del>(4) Ensure that there is involvement of a licensed physician or other person authorized
by the Georgia Composite Medical Board in the site's automated external defibrillator
program to ensure compliance with requirements for training, notification, and
maintenance;
</del> <ins>(6) Ensure that the bleeding control kit is maintained and replenished after use;
</ins> <del>(5)(7)</del> Establish a written emergency action plan that adheres to nationally recognized
standards and that establishes specific steps to take during <del>a cardiac emergency
</del> <ins>emergencies</ins> in a school setting <ins>which involve either cardiac arrest or severe bleeding.
</ins> Such plan shall be designed to:
<ins>(A) Provide</ins> <del>provide</del> for an effective system for communication between members of
the internal response team and other school officials, ensuring that the internal response
team or other designated personnel activate the emergency medical services system as
soon as reasonably possible after any person renders emergency care or treatment to a
person in cardiac arrest by using an automated external defibrillator and <del>report any
</del>
<del>clinical use of the automated external defibrillator to the licensed physician or other
person authorized by the Georgia Composite Medical Board who is supervising the
program, and</del> ensuring that emergency medical services personnel are led directly to the
exact location of the person in cardiac arrest; <ins>and
(B) Provide for an effective system for communication between members of the
internal response team and other school officials, ensuring that the internal response
team or other designated personnel activate the emergency medical services system as
soon as reasonably possible after any person renders emergency care or treatment to a
person experiencing severe bleeding by using a bleeding control kit and ensuring that
emergency medical services personnel are led directly to the exact location of the
person experiencing severe bleeding;
</ins> <del>(6)(8)</del> Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year and each school year thereafter, conduct
a minimum of two emergency action plan practice drills per school year, with at least one
per semester. One such practice drill may be a tabletop drill to walk through a
hypothetical scenario and the courses of action a school will need to take before, during,
and after <del>a</del> <ins>any</ins> cardiac emergency <ins>or severe bleeding emergency.</ins> The emergency action
plan practice drills shall include various locations on school grounds and responses to
different hypothetical situations;
<del>(7)(9)</del> Establish a designated internal response team composed of:
(A) At least five school staff members;
(B) One or more designated team leads trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and
automated external defibrillator use, <ins>and bleeding control kits,</ins> and responsible for
oversight of an emergency response;
(C) One or more designated cardiopulmonary resuscitation leads trained in
cardiopulmonary resuscitation, <del>and</del> automated external defibrillator use, <ins>and bleeding
control kits;
</ins>
(D) One or more designated automated external defibrillator leads <ins>who shall be
</ins> responsible for knowing the location of automated external defibrillators, retrieving
automated external defibrillators, and maintenance of automated external defibrillators
<ins>and who shall also be responsible for knowing the location of bleeding control kits,
retrieving bleeding control kits, and maintenance of bleeding control kits;</ins> and
(E) One or more designated communication leads responsible for activating the
emergency medical services system, facilitating directions to <del>the</del> <ins>any</ins> person in cardiac
arrest <ins>or experiencing severe bleeding</ins> for emergency medical services personnel upon
arrival at the school, and coordinating communications with the designated team lead
or leads; and
<ins>(8)(10)</ins> Apprise all school personnel of the location of automated external defibrillators,
<ins>bleeding control kits,</ins> and the members of the internal response team.
(d) Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the Department of Education shall
provide funds to local school systems to assist in the purchase of automated external
defibrillators pursuant to this Code section.
<ins>(e) The department and local systems shall consult as necessary with the Georgia Trauma
Commission Bleeding Control Kit Program and Regional Trauma Advisory Committee
coordinators to obtain bleeding control kits and training to meet the requirements of this
Code section.
</ins> <del>(e)(f)</del> The department and local school systems shall use diligent efforts to identify private
sources of funding or donation of funding and equipment <ins>for cardiopulmonary resuscitation
and automated external defibrillator use</ins> to meet the requirements of this Code section."
SECTION 2.
Code Section 20-2-218 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to duty-free lunch
period and planning period required, exemption for extenuating circumstances, and funding,
is amended by adding a new subsection to read as follows:
<ins>"(h) This Code section shall not be subject to waiver pursuant to Code Section 20-2-82 fora
strategic waivers school system, Code Section 20-2-2063.2 or 20-2-2065 for a charter
system, Code Section 20-2-2065 for a charter school, Code Section 20-2-2096.3 for a
completion special school, or Code Section 20-2-244."
</ins> SECTION 3.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, this Act shall become
effective on July 1, 2026.
(b) Section 1 of this Act shall become effective only if funds are specifically appropriated
for purposes of this Act in an appropriations Act enacted by the General Assembly. If funds
are so appropriated, then this Act shall become effective on the later of:
(1) The date on which such appropriations Act becomes effective; or
(2) The beginning date of the fiscal year for which such appropriations are made.
(c) Section 2 of this Act shall apply to all school years beginning with the 2026-2027 school
year.
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House bill would drop the requirement that a licensed physician oversee school defibrillator programs, add new rules for bleeding control kits in schools, and stop districts from waiving the state's duty-free lunch and planning period law.

### Plain-language summary

Georgia law currently requires every K-12 public school to keep an automated external defibrillator (AED) on site and involve a licensed physician or other medical board-authorized person to oversee training, notification, and maintenance for the program. This bill removes that physician oversight requirement entirely.
In its place, the bill adds a parallel set of requirements for bleeding control kits, defined as kits approved by the American College of Surgeons and available through the Georgia Trauma Commission's Bleeding Control Kit Program. Schools would have to train staff, notify local emergency services, maintain the kits, include bleeding emergencies in their written emergency action plans, and cover bleeding control in required practice drills alongside cardiac emergencies. The bill also amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-218 so that the state's duty-free lunch and planning period law can no longer be waived by strategic waiver, charter, or completion special school agreements. The physician-removal and bleeding kit changes only take effect if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for them; the lunch/planning period change applies starting the 2026-2027 school year.

### What it does

- Removes the requirement that a licensed physician or Georgia Composite Medical Board-authorized person oversee a school's AED training, notification, and maintenance program.
- Adds a new definition and requirements for 'bleeding control kits,' including training, emergency medical services notification, and maintenance obligations for schools.
- Requires school emergency action plans and internal response teams to cover severe bleeding emergencies, not just cardiac arrest.
- Expands required practice drills so schools must address both cardiac and severe bleeding emergency scenarios starting in the 2025-2026 school year.
- Bars school systems from waiving the state's duty-free lunch period and planning period law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-218) through strategic waiver, charter system, charter school, or completion special school agreements.
- Makes the AED and bleeding control kit changes effective only if the General Assembly appropriates specific funding for them.

### Who it affects

Georgia public K-12 schools and their staff, especially members of internal emergency response teams; the Georgia Composite Medical Board and licensed physicians who currently oversee AED programs; the Georgia Trauma Commission and Regional Trauma Advisory Committees; the Department of Education; and teachers who benefit from duty-free lunch and planning periods.

### Why it matters

Schools would no longer need a physician's involvement to run their defibrillator programs, potentially easing an administrative burden, while gaining new obligations to stock and train staff on bleeding control kits for emergencies like severe injuries. Teachers would also keep guaranteed duty-free lunch and planning time regardless of a school's waiver status, since districts could no longer opt out of that protection.

### Key provisions

- Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 20-2-775, removing the requirement for physician or medical board-authorized oversight of a school's AED program.
- Section 1 adds a definition of 'bleeding control kit' tied to American College of Surgeons approval and the Georgia Trauma Commission's program.
- Section 1 requires schools to notify local emergency medical services of bleeding control kit locations and maintain and replenish the kits after use.
- Section 1 expands the required written emergency action plan and internal response team duties to cover severe bleeding alongside cardiac arrest.
- Section 1 requires at least two emergency action plan practice drills per year, starting in 2025-2026, covering both cardiac and bleeding emergencies.
- Section 2 adds a new subsection (h) to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-218 making the duty-free lunch and planning period law immune from several types of school system waivers.
- Section 3 makes Section 1 effective only if the General Assembly appropriates specific funding for it, tied to the relevant fiscal year; Section 2 applies starting the 2026-2027 school year.

## Status

- Status: Engrossed (2026-02-06)
- Last action: Senate Tabled (2026-03-31)
- Sponsors: Lee Hawkins, Sharon Cooper, Mark Newton, Gerald Greene, Karen Mathiak, Chuck Payne
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70806

> The history, votes, and amendments (943 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb629.md?full=1