§ 20-34-8-9 — Sudden cardiac arrest training requirements; immunity from damages; grants

(a) This section applies to:
(1) a head coach or assistant coach who coaches an athletic
activity;
(2) a marching band leader;
(3) a drama or musical leader; or
(4) a leader of an extracurricular activity in which students have
an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest activity as determined
by the department in consultation with an organization that
specializes in the prevention of sudden cardiac arrest.
(b) An individual described in subsection (a) shall complete the
sudden cardiac arrest training course offered by a provider approved by
the department in a manner specified by the state board under IC 20-28-5.5-1 or IC 20-28-5.5-1.5.
(c) An individual described in subsection (a) who complies with this
section and provides coaching or leadership services in good faith is
not personally liable for damages in a civil action as a result of a
sudden cardiac arrest incurred by an applicable student participating in
an event in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac
arrest for which the head coach, assistant coach, marching band leader,
drama or musical leader, or other applicable leader provided coaching
or leadership services, except for an act or omission by the individual
described in subsection (a) that constitutes gross negligence or willful
or wanton misconduct.
(d) An individual described in subsection (a) shall ensure that an
operational automated external defibrillator (AED) is present at each
event in which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest
for which the individual described in subsection (a) is providing
coaching or leadership.
(e) At each event in which students have an increased risk of sudden
cardiac arrest, an individual described in subsection (a) shall inform all
individuals who are coaching or providing leadership at the event in
which students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest of the
location of the automated external defibrillator (AED).
(f) A school corporation, charter school, and state accredited
nonpublic school shall do the following:
(1) Develop a venue specific emergency action plan for sudden
cardiac arrest that includes elements recommended by the
American Heart Association, Heart Safe Schools Program, or
another similar nationally recognized evidence based program.
(2) Share the plan described in subdivision (1) with each
individual described in subsection (a).
(3) Before the beginning of the season of each event in which
students have an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest, share the
plan described in subdivision (1) with all applicable students.
(g) A school corporation, a charter school, a state accredited
nonpublic school or an accredited nonpublic school (as defined in IC 10-21-1-1) may apply for a grant under IC 10-21-1-2(a)(1)(C)(viii) to
purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED) if the school
corporation, charter school, state accredited nonpublic school or
accredited nonpublic school develops a venue specific emergency
action plan for sudden cardiac arrest.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.56-2021, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.187-2023, SEC.2; P.L.250-2023, SEC.39; P.L.9-2024, SEC.396; P.L.232-2025, SEC.17.