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.