SB 868: Pupil safety: trauma kits.

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district, superintendent of schools, or the principal of a public or private school in the state to equip the school with a first aid kit whenever a pupil of the school is conducted or taken on a field trip, as specified. Existing law exempts from civil liability any person who, in good faith and not for compensation, renders emergency medical or nonmedical care or assistance at the scene of an emergency other than an act or omission constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

This bill, commencing with the 202425 school year and contingent upon an appropriation for its purposes, would require each school district, county office of education, and charter school to (1) equip each classroom at each of its schoolsites with a trauma kit, as defined, (2) inspect and replace or replenish each trauma kit, as necessary, upon each use and at least once every three years, and (3) notify, at least once each school year, its employees of the location of the trauma kits and provide them with contact information for training in the use of the trauma kit, as provided. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would exempt from civil liability a person who renders emergency care or treatment by the use of a trauma kit at the scene of an emergency, as specified.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.