S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8615
I N S E N A T E
March 22, 2022
___________
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to first aid certif-
ication for coaches and staff of high school athletics
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 3001-b of the education law, as added by chapter
498 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:
§ 3001-b. First aid instruction [mandatory] for coaches AND STAFF of
extra-class public school athletic activities. 1. On and after the
effective date of this section, in addition to any provision of law or
rule or regulation of the department related to the requirements neces-
sary for teachers within the public school systems, whether certified in
physical education or not, to coach any extra-class athletic activity,
it shall be required of such teachers, except as provided in subdivision
two OR THREE of this section, to hold a valid certificate of completion
of a course of study in first aid knowledge and skills offered by the
American National Red Cross and approved by the commissioner, or to meet
equivalent requirements as certified by the commissioner. Any such
course of study or equivalent requirements must include instruction in
the administration of adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Prior to the
start of each sports season, coaches must provide valid evidence to
their chief school officer that their first aid and adult cardiopulmo-
nary resuscitation knowledge and skills are current pursuant to the
requirements established by the American National Red Cross or that they
meet equivalent requirements as certified by the commissioner.
2. [Persons] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION,
PERSONS who have been employed as coaches of extra-class athletic activ-
ities in a public school system on the effective date of this section
who do not hold a valid certificate of completion of a course of study
in first aid knowledge and skills pursuant to subdivision one of this
section may continue to coach such sports, provided, however, that such
coaches do receive such certification required in subdivision one of
this section as soon as practicable after the effective date of this
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10452-03-2
S. 8615 2
section but not later than twelve months thereafter, provided, however,
that the commissioner shall have the authority to establish by rule or
regulation an additional time schedule for compliance with this section.
3. A TEACHER OR PERSON WHO HAS BEEN EMPLOYED AS A COACH OF EXTRA-CLASS
ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND DOES NOT HOLD A VALID
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION OF A COURSE OF STUDY IN FIRST AID KNOWLEDGE
AND SKILLS OFFERED BY THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS OR A NATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATION, AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (D) OF SUBDIVISION ONE
OF SECTION THREE THOUSAND-B OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW AND APPROVED BY THE
COMMISSIONER, PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OR TWO OF THIS SECTION MAY
COACH ANY EXTRA-CLASS ATHLETIC ACTIVITY IF THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON OR
STAFF EMPLOYED BY THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO HOLDS SUCH CERTIFICATE
PRESENT WITH THE COACH AT ALL TIMES DURING THE EXTRA-CLASS ATHLETIC
ACTIVITIES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PRACTICES, SCRIMMAGES AND DURING
COMPETITION.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 3001-b of the education law, as amended
by chapter 500 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
1. On and after the effective date of this section, in addition to any
provision of law or rule or regulation of the department related to the
requirements necessary for teachers within the public school systems,
whether certified in physical education or not, to coach any extra-class
athletic activity, it shall be required of such teachers, except as
provided in subdivision two OR THREE of this section, to hold a valid
certificate of completion of a course of study in first aid knowledge
and skills offered by a nationally recognized organization, as defined
in paragraph (d) of subdivision one of section three thousand-b of the
public health law and approved by the commissioner, or to meet equiv-
alent requirements as certified by the commissioner. Any such course of
study or equivalent requirements must include instruction in recognizing
signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac arrest and the
administration of adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Prior to the
start of each sports season, coaches must provide valid evidence to
their chief school officer that their first aid and adult cardiopulmo-
nary resuscitation knowledge and skills are current pursuant to the
requirements established by a nationally recognized organization, as
defined in paragraph (d) of subdivision one of section three thousand-b
of the public health law and approved by the commissioner, or that they
meet equivalent requirements as certified by the commissioner.
§ 3. Section 3001-c of the education law, as added by chapter 39 of
the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
§ 3001-c. First aid instruction [mandatory] for coaches AND STAFF of
high school extra-class nonpublic school athletic activities. 1. On and
after the effective date of this section, it shall be required of coach-
es of high school extra-class athletic activities in a nonpublic school
system, except as provided in subdivision two OR THREE of this section,
to hold a valid certificate of completion of a course of study in first
aid knowledge and skills offered by the American National Red Cross and
approved by the commissioner, or to meet equivalent requirements as
certified by the commissioner. Any such course of study or equivalent
requirements must include instruction in the administration of adult
cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Prior to the start of each sports season,
coaches must provide valid evidence to their chief school officer that
their first aid and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge and
skills are current pursuant to the requirements established by the Amer-
ican National Red Cross or that they meet equivalent requirements as
certified by the commissioner.
S. 8615 3
2. [Persons] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION,
PERSONS who have been employed as coaches of high school extra-class
athletic activities in a nonpublic school system on the effective date
of this section who do not hold a valid certificate of completion of a
course of study in first aid knowledge and skills pursuant to subdivi-
sion one of this section may continue to coach such sports, provided,
however, that such coaches do receive such certification required in
subdivision one of this section as soon as practicable after the effec-
tive date of this section but not later than twelve months thereafter,
provided, however, that the commissioner shall have the authority to
establish by rule or regulation an additional time schedule for compli-
ance with this section.
3. A TEACHER OR PERSON WHO HAS BEEN EMPLOYED AS A COACH OF EXTRA-CLASS
ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES IN A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND DOES NOT HOLD A
VALID CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION OF A COURSE OF STUDY IN FIRST AID KNOW-
LEDGE AND SKILLS OFFERED BY THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS OR A
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATION, AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (D) OF
SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION THREE THOUSAND-B OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW AND
APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER, PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OR TWO OF THIS
SECTION MAY COACH ANY EXTRA-CLASS ATHLETIC ACTIVITY IF THERE IS ANOTHER
PERSON OR STAFF EMPLOYED BY THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO HOLDS SUCH
CERTIFICATE PRESENT WITH THE COACH AT THE HIGH SCHOOL EXTRA-CLASS
ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES.
§ 4. Subdivision 1 of section 3001-c of the education law, as amended
by chapter 500 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
1. On and after the effective date of this section, it shall be
required of coaches of high school extra-class athletic activities in a
nonpublic school system, except as provided in subdivision two OR THREE
of this section, to hold a valid certificate of completion of a course
of study in first aid knowledge and skills offered by a nationally
recognized organization, as defined in paragraph (d) of subdivision one
of section three thousand-b of the public health law and approved by the
commissioner, or to meet equivalent requirements as certified by the
commissioner. Any such course of study or equivalent requirements must
include instruction in recognizing signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest
and sudden cardiac arrest and the administration of adult cardiopulmo-
nary resuscitation. Prior to the start of each sports season, coaches
must provide valid evidence to their chief school officer that their
first aid and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge and skills
are current pursuant to the requirements established by a nationally
recognized organization, as defined in paragraph (d) of subdivision one
of section three thousand-b of the public health law and approved by the
commissioner, or that they meet equivalent requirements as certified by
the commissioner.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately provided, however that:
(a) the amendments to subdivision 1 of section 3001-b of the education
law made by section one of this act shall be subject to the expiration
and reversion of such subdivision pursuant to section 4 of chapter 500
of the laws of 2021, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of
section two of this act shall take effect; and
(b) the amendments to subdivision 1 of section 3001-c of the education
law made by section three of this act shall be subject to the expiration
and reversion of such subdivision pursuant to section 5 of chapter 500
of the laws of 2021, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of
section four of this act shall take effect.
