A RESOLUTION
Creating the House Study Committee on Layperson Training in CPR and Automated External Defibrillators; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, heart disease is a leading cause of death in Georgia; and
WHEREAS, a cardiac arrest victim´s chance of survival drops 10 percent for every minute that passes before his or her heart is returned to normal rhythm; and
WHEREAS, because most cardiac arrest victims are initially in ventricular fibrillation, and the only treatment for ventricular fibrillation is defibrillation, prompt access to defibrillation to return the heart to normal rhythm is essential; and
WHEREAS, lifesaving technology, the automated external defibrillator, has been developed to allow trained lay rescuers to respond to cardiac arrest by using this simple device to shock the heart into normal rhythm; and
WHEREAS, those people who are likely to be first on the scene of a cardiac arrest situation in many communities, particularly smaller and rural communities, lack sufficient numbers of automated external defibrillators to respond to cardiac arrest in a timely manner; and
WHEREAS, the American Heart Association estimates that many deaths could be prevented each year if defibrillators were more widely available; and
WHEREAS, increasingly more government entities and private businesses are procuring and making available automated external defibrillators for use by laypersons when an emergency occurs, and because of the prevalence of these defibrillators, it has been encouraged that all able persons obtain training on their use; and
WHEREAS, a study should be conducted to identify ways to encourage laypersons to receive training and certification in the use of automated external defibrillators in this state, including, but not limited to, possible mandatory courses or portions of courses in other classes, such as health, in the use of automated external defibrillators in public high schools, inclusion of training in defibrillators in required driver´s education courses, reduction in rates in automobile insurance, reduction of fees in obtaining a driver´s license, and other possible ideas.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that there is created the House Study Committee on Layperson Training in CPR and Automated External Defibrillators to be composed of three members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint an advisory panel to assist the members of the committee. The advisory panel shall consist of seven members as follows: one representative from the Medical Association of Georgia, one representative from the Georgia Hospital Association, one representative from the Georgia Association of Emergency Medical Services; and one representative each from the Department of Education, Department of Human Resources, Department of Community Health, and Department of Driver Services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees but shall receive the same for not more than five days. Members of the advisory panel shall receive no compensation for their services to the committee and shall not be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as advisers to the committee. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the House of Representatives. In the event that the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations for proposed legislation, such report shall be made no later than December 31, 2007. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2007.
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