Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/26/2025 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB20 | |
| SB118 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 118 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 20-CPR CURRICULUM
3:31:56 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 20
"An Act relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation education in
public schools; relating to the duties of the Department of
Education and Early Development; and providing for an effective
date."
3:32:12 PM
ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, Senator, District G, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 20 stated this bill
is the same as the bill she introduced last session with the
exception that it has a zero fiscal note. She mentioned that
Captain Jason Dolph with the Anchorage Fire Department brought
the idea for the bill to her attention. She gave the following
sponsor statement for SB 20. She explained that sudden cardiac
arrest is the third leading cause of death in the United States,
and immediate bystander-administered CPR can more than triple
survival rates. She concluded that the bill would improve health
education, prepare students for emergencies, introduce career
skills, and promote a culture of readiness in Alaska schools.
3:34:15 PM
At ease.
3:34:29 PM
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting.
3:34:34 PM
ZANDER KOTLAROV, Intern, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided an introductory
presentation for SB 20. He moved to slide 2 and read the
following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
What is CPR? Importance of Early CPR
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is a first aid
technique to help people who suffer a cardiac
arrest (their heart stops beating). It involves
doing chest compressions.
• Aids in the circulation of oxygenated blood
around the body to maintain the brain and vital
organs until advance medical help arrives.
• If performed immediately, CPR can double or
triple a victim's chances of survival.
3:35:25 PM
MR. KOTLAROV moved to slide 3, a map of the United States
showing the states that require student CPR training. He
discussed the following points:
[Original punctuation provided.]
A little background
• Currently 40 states have a bill that requires
students to have CPR training before graduating
high school.
• Alabama passed a similar bill in 1984.
• Florida was the last state to adopt a similar
bill in 2021.
3:35:52 PM
MR. KOTLAROV moved to slide 4, Trained Students Save Lives, and
discussed the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
TRAINED STUDENTS SAVE LIVES
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a leading cause of death
in the USbut bystander CPR can double or triple
the survival rate.
• Training students in CPR requires minimal
investment in time and cost. According to the
latest science, trainees can achieve acceptable
levels of CPR skills proficiency in 30 minutes or
less.
• Pierson High School in Sag Harbor, NY began its
CPR program in 1994. Amazingly, at least 16 lives
have been saved so far because these students
used their CPR skills in the real world!
3:36:34 PM
MR. KOTLAROV moved to slide 5, What Does SB 20 Do, and shared
the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
What does SB 20 do?
• It will require school districts to implement an
existing program to instruct public school
students on hands-only cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR).
• The program must:
• Be based on current national, evidence-based
emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for
cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Incorporate hands-on practice in addition to
cognitive learning.
• Include instruction in the appropriate use of an
AED (automated external defibrillator), which may
be taught using video or other means if in-person
instruction is not available.
MR. KOTLAROV said industrial experts are available online to
share testimony in support of SB 20 and answer questions.
3:36:55 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON stated that CPR is one of the most valuable
life skills for young adults, enabling them to make a meaningful
difference in emergencies. She shared that during the interim,
she and her staff visited the Alaska Heart and Vascular
Institute at Providence in Anchorage, where they observed the
positive impact of CPR education in schools. She reported that
doctors highlighted students' long-term retention of the
material and stressed the need to prepare youth for life-
threatening situations. She concluded by urging support for SB
20 to align Alaska with other states in providing students with
essential life-saving skills.
3:38:11 PM
SENATOR STEVENS expressed strong support for the legislation and
praised its connection to the Department of Education. He stated
he did not wish to suggest changes to the bill at this time.
However, he noted that requiring CPR training for university
students could also be a valid consideration for future
legislation.
3:38:43 PM
CHAIR TOBIN agreed with the bill's intent and shared a personal
story of witnessing her sister-in-law perform a life-saving
measure on her young nephew. She emphasized that many people
across Alaska need access to critical life-saving knowledge. She
noted that emergencies can happen at any time, especially to
loved ones, highlighting the importance of preparedness.
3:39:03 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced invited testimony on SB 20.
3:39:17 PM
DOUG SCHRAGE, Chief, Anchorage Fire Department, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 20. He said he is a former
president and lifetime member of the Alaska Fire Chiefs
Association. He is testifying on behalf of the Anchorage Fire
Department and fire personnel across the state. He stated that
hands-only CPR is essential to increasing survival rates from
sudden cardiac arrest in Alaska and emphasized that even in
communities with strong emergency medical services, survival
remains around 50 percent due to delayed response times. He
explained that closing the time gap between a cardiac event and
emergency response depends on community members being trained in
CPR, especially in the home where most arrests occur. He
highlighted that hands-only CPR is preferred in many situations
due to both psychological and scientific reasons, noting that
uninterrupted chest compressions are most effective in
maintaining circulation. He added that the CPR curriculum is
widely available at no cost and that many fire departments are
willing to support schools in delivering training. He also
endorsed the inclusion of automated external defibrillator (AED)
training in SB 20, noting that modern AEDs are user-friendly,
often requiring no prior experience, and that training still
adds important value. He concluded by expressing strong
enthusiasm for the bill and urged its passage this session.
3:44:40 PM
JASON DOLPH, Safety Officer, Anchorage Fire Department,
Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 20. He said he
is a second-generation firefighter and 26-year emergency
services veteran. He shared his extensive background, including
serving as a safety officer with the Anchorage Fire Department,
being a certified EMT and CPR instructor, and operating a CPR
training business. He emphasized the critical need for immediate
CPR during sudden cardiac arrest, citing data showing an 81
percent increase in survival when CPR is performed within two
minutes. He explained that CPR can double or triple survival
chances and that early interventionespecially by bystandersis
essential to bridging the response time gap before emergency
crews arrive.
3:47:02 PM
MR. DOLPH shared a personal account of his first 911 call
involving a cardiac arrest, describing the helplessness of
untrained family members present at the scene and stressing how
training could have made a difference. He explained that only
about 40 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims
receive CPR from bystanders, largely because adults often lack
training and time to attend classes unless required for work. He
argued that integrating CPR into schools addresses this gap by
reaching students early, normalizing life-saving skills, and
instilling confidence through peer learning.
3:49:48 PM
MR. DOLPH cited national stories of youth successfully saving
lives with CPR and research supporting that children as young as
nine can effectively learn the technique. He said the ultimate
goal is to create a generation of lifesaving citizens with a
lifelong commitment to cardiac awareness. He compared the death
toll from sudden cardiac arrest to the equivalent of seven daily
commercial plane crashes and asked lawmakers to consider whether
such numbers would prompt urgent action. He concluded by
affirming his support for education, but stressed that in an
emergency, CPR is the only knowledge powerful enough to save a
life, and SB 20 provides that essential opportunity.
3:53:48 PM
SENATOR STEVENS stated that he has known Mr. Dolph's father, the
fire chief in Kodiak, for approximately 50 years and expressed
appreciation for his son's accomplishments. He shared that he
had known Mr. Jason Dolph since childhood and commended him for
becoming a respected and responsible adult. He thanked him for
his contributions to public safety and CPR advocacy.
3:54:30 PM
BRIAN WEBB, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by
invitation on SB 20. He said he is a paramedic with over 46
years of experience in Alaska EMS and EMS education, testified
in strong support of SB 20. He shared that CPR in schools has
been a long-standing goal for the EMS community since 2005, and
he expressed encouragement at the simplicity and progress of the
current bill. He explained that rural Alaska faces long EMS
response times and a persistent lack of bystander CPR, which
severely impacts cardiac arrest survival. He stated that the
most critical and changeable factor in the state's chain of
survival is bystander CPR and emphasized that every minute
without CPR reduces survival chances by 10 percent.
3:55:50 PM
MR. WEBER addressed previous concerns about cost and class time
by noting that SB 20 only requires skill exposurenot full
certificationand that free or low-cost programs and equipment
are now available. He added that effective CPR can be taught in
30 minutes or less, making it a manageable addition to school
programs. He argued that the bill not only provides life-saving
skills but also strengthens local EMS connections and may help
build Alaska's future EMS workforce. He shared that his own
career was inspired by a school CPR class taught by Norm Miller,
Alaska's first licensed paramedic, and noted that communities
like Hollis, Hydaburg and Klawock have already seen success with
school-based CPR training led by local EMS. He concluded by
citing a recent example in Juneau where a student saved his
father's life just two weeks after a school CPR class, and urged
support for SB 20 as a straightforward, life-saving measure.
3:58:53 PM
LINDA IRELAND, DO, Cardiologist, Alaska Heart and Vascular
Institute, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 20.
She said she serves as the current Governor of the Alaska
Chapter of the American Cardiac College of Cardiology and has
been a cardiologist for 20 years. She emphasized that 70 percent
of cardiac arrests occur in the home, not in public venues,
making it crucial for both adults and children to know CPR. She
stated that delayed bystander CPR often results in poor outcomes
before patients reach the emergency room and that immediate
action is essential, as survival decreases by 10 percent for
every minute CPR is not performed. She shared two examples: one,
a 50-year-old woman who survived a sudden cardiac arrest in the
stands during a volleyball game thanks to immediate CPR and AED
use by a nurse; and another, a local student whose CPR was
delayed due to misidentification of cardiac arrest symptoms as a
seizure. She explained that CPR education also teaches students
to recognize emergencies and call 911 effectively. She described
her ongoing work teaching hands-only CPR to youth through the
Boys and Girls Clubs in Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley,
and remote communities such as Nome and Kotzebue, supported by a
grant from the American College of Cardiology. She stated that
SB 20 would ensure all students graduate with the skills to
respond in emergencies and help close the CPR knowledge gap in
Alaska. She concluded by urging passage of SB 20, noting that
CPR education empowers students to act as multipliers by sharing
their skills with family members and expanding life-saving
awareness within communities.
4:03:51 PM
SENATOR KIEHL referenced written testimony expressing concern
that hands-only CPR may not provide adequate oxygenation or
prevent CO2 buildup without rescue breaths. He asked for
clarification on the medical evidence comparing hands-only CPR
to traditional CPR with rescue breathing.
4:04:40 PM
DR. IRELAND explained that including rescue breaths in CPR often
discourages people from participating in training. She
acknowledged that CO2 levels can rise without rescue breaths but
emphasized that chest compressions alone have been proven
effective within the critical 10-minute window before EMS
arrives, particularly for neurological outcomes. She noted that
other EMS professionals could further address the issue.
4:05:24 PM
SENATOR STEVENS noted the bill's reference to automated external
defibrillators (AEDs) and asked for clarification on how AED use
compares to hands-only CPR, especially given earlier comments
favoring hands-only CPR.
DR. IRELAND stated that AED use is the next step in the life-
saving process after calling EMS and performing CPR. She
emphasized that AED application significantly increases survival
chances. She noted that modern AEDs are user-friendly and often
come with training devices for practice. She agreed that AEDs
are critically important and should be incorporated alongside
CPR education.
4:07:09 PM
KRISTIN GEORGE, Executive Director, American Heart Association
Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 20 and
said the organization is proud to support the legislation. She
explained that cardiac arrest, unlike a heart attack, results
from an electrical malfunction that stops the heart's pumping
function. She stated that nearly 90 percent of out-of-hospital
cardiac arrest victims do not survive, but early CPR can double
or triple survival rates. She emphasized that hands-only CPR can
be taught in a single class period using accessible resources
and that training students equips them to provide immediate aid
until EMS arrives. She urged swift passage of SB 20, noting that
over 40 states already require CPR training for graduation and
that Alaska must not wait another year to join them.
4:09:08 PM
KELLY MANNING, Deputy Director, Division of Innovation and
Education Excellence, Department of Education and Early
Development, Juneau, Alaska, offered an overview of the fiscal
note OMB 2796 for SB 20. She stated that the bill carries a zero
fiscal note. She explained that the Department will develop
regulations to guide local curriculum adoption as required by
statute and does not anticipate any additional costs at this
time.
4:10:27 PM
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 20.
4:10:47 PM
MIKE COONS, representing self, Wasilla, Alaska, testified in
opposition to SB 20. He said he is a retired paramedic with 22
years of experience. He expressed strong opposition to SB 20's
exclusive focus on hands-only CPR. He stated that while he has
taught CPR and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and
performed life-saving interventions, hands-only CPR does little
to remove carbon dioxide or deliver oxygenboth critical to
sustaining life. He acknowledged that hands-only CPR may be
effective in the first few minutes after collapse, but stressed
that without oxygen, brain damage begins within four minutes. He
argued that students should be trained in full CPR, including
rescue breathing, and urged the legislature to let schools
decide which method to teach to maximize survival chances.
4:13:43 PM
MICHAEL LEVY, representing self, Eagle River, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 20. He said he has been an emergency physician
in Alaska since 1989 and medical director for the Anchorage Fire
Department and other EMS agencies. He expressed frustration that
Alaska remains one of the few states without a CPR education
requirement, despite years of advocacy. He stated that 519
Alaskans experienced cardiac arrest in 2023, with only 54
discharged with good neurological function, and emphasized that
early bystander CPR significantly increases survival rates. He
described school-based CPR training as a low-cost, high-impact
intervention that empowers students, strengthens communities,
and enhances public safety.
4:15:37 PM
CHAIR TOBIN closed public testimony on SB 20.
4:15:53 PM
CHAIR TOBIN said she received full CPR certification during high
school along with other requirements. She asked whether SB 20
prohibits any school from offering additional training to
students.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON said she did not know the answer to the
question.
4:16:16 PM
CHAIR TOBIN opined that SB 20 does not say schools cannot offer
more training because it is just the minimum required. She asked
whether schools could offer more training.
4:16:25 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON stated she was unsure and therefore did not
care to respond. She said she would find the answer and report
back to the committee members.
CHAIR TOBIN stated that having an answer would address concerns
mentioned by Mr. Coons.
4:16:43 PM
CHAIR TOBIN held SB 20 in committee.