HEALTH CLUB EMERGENCY PROCEDURES S.B. 310: COMMITTEE SUMMARY




Senate Bill 310 (as introduced 3-16-05)
Sponsor: Senator Gilda Z. Jacobs
Committee: Health Policy


Date Completed: 5-9-05

CONTENT


 The bill would create a new act to require that health clubs have on the premises at all times both an automated external defibrillator (AED) and at least one employee who was certified in first aid and CPR, as well as develop and implement emergency plans, or face civil penalties.


Under the bill, "health club" would mean an establishment that provides, as its primary purpose, services or facilities to assist patrons in physical exercise, in weight control, or in figure development, including a fitness center, studio, salon, or club. A health club would not include a hotel or motel providing physical fitness equipment or activities, an organization solely offering training or facilities for an individual sport, or a weight reduction center.


Beginning one year after the bill's effective date, a health club's owner or operator would have to do all of the following:

-- Have present on the premises, at all times during which the health club was open and its facilities and services were available for use, at least one employee who had satisfactorily completed a course or courses in basic first aid and basic CPR, taught by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or an equivalent organization approved by the Department of Community Health.
-- Have an AED available on the premises at all times during which the health club was open and its facilities and services were available for use. -- Develop and implement an emergency plan to address emergency services, when needed, during operational hours at the health club.

A violation of the bill would be a State civil infraction punishable by a maximum civil fine of $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense, or $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense.

Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on State and local government. Any additional fine revenue from the proposed civil infraction would benefit public libraries.

Fiscal Analyst: Bethany Wicksall

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb310/0506