Requires 911 call-takers and dispatchers to complete telecommunicator CPR training which shall include recognizing signs of cardiac arrest during emergency calls, providing instructions for initiating CPR instructions to callers, coordinating with emergency medical services dispatch, and using automated external defibrillators when available and appropriate.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5371A
SPONSOR: Paulin TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the county law and the administrative code of the city
of New York, in relation to requiring telecommunicator cardiopulmonary
resuscitation training for 911 call-takers and dispatchers
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill requires T-CPR (telecommunicator cardiopulmonary resusci-
tation) training for 911 operators and emergency dispatchers. Following
the example set by several states in the US, this piece of legislation
would enhance the probabilities of survival of victims of sudden cardiac
arrest (SCA).
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of this bill amends Section 328 of the county law by adding
a new subdivision 4-a defining CPR, T-CPR, and requiring all 911 call-
takers and dispatchers to complete T-CPR training and annual follow-up;
furthermore, it underscores what said training would entail. It reads
that 911 call-takers and dispatchers employed before the effective date
of this subdivision shall complete T-CPR training within twelve months
of the effective date of the subdivision; likewise, 911 call-takers and
dispatchers hired after the effective date, shall complete such training
within twelve months of their employment.
Section two amends the administrative code of the city of New York by
adding a new section 10-187 including provisions similar to the ones
outlined in Section one.
Section three enunciates the severability clause annexed to the act.
Section four provides the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, and blood
stops flowing to the rest of the body (CDC, 2024); younger individuals
can be victims as well. In the United States, more than 365,000 people
suffer from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) each year in an out-of hospital
environment (reports from American Heart Association). Among these
people, 60% to 80% of them die before reaching the hospital. Even those
who survive may still face consequences such as brain injury, injury to
internal organs, and psychological distress (CDC, 2024).
In the case of a SCA, prompt 911 calls made by people around the victim
are vital in determining the probability of survival. While distance to
hospitals may vary from case to case, telecommunicators remain the true
first responders in these instances, capable of concretely changing
their outcomes. That is why it is crucial to require that CPR training
for 911 call-takers and dispatchers become compulsory, with annual
follow-up training. Said training shall include the recognition of signs
of cardiac arrest during emergency calls, and the provision of step-by-
step CPR instructions to callers. Telecommunicator CPR (T-CPR)
increases the probability of saving lives by keeping the victim's brain
and heart alive until EMS arrives to provide vital interventions (Ameri-
can Heart Association).
Several states in the US have already required CPR training to be
compulsory for emergency dispatchers and operators. In 2018, Louisiana,
Kentucky, and Wisconsin set the example. In 2019, it was Indiana, Mary-
land, Minnesota and West Virginia. In 2020 and 2021, Virginia, Arkansas,
Rhode Island, Texas and Tennessee enacted similar legislation. Most
recently, Oklahoma, Georgia, and South Carolina joined the list, and a
handful of other states are considering the implementation of similar
legislation.
Requiring T-CPR training for all 911 dispatchers in New York State is a
simple measure that could save many lives.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5371--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 13, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, CUNNINGHAM, GLICK, SANTABARBARA, SAYEGH,
SHIMSKY, STECK, TAPIA, K. BROWN, KASSAY, LEVENBERG, GALLAHAN -- read
once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the county law and the administrative code of the city
of New York, in relation to requiring telecommunicator cardiopulmonary
resuscitation training for 911 call-takers and dispatchers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 328 of the county law is amended by adding a new
2 subdivision 4-a to read as follows:
3 4-a. (a) For the purposes of this subdivision:
4 (1) "CPR" or "cardiopulmonary resuscitation" shall mean measures, as
5 specified in regulations promulgated by the commissioner of health, to
6 restore function or support ventilation in the event of a cardiac or
7 respiratory arrest. CPR shall not include measures to improve venti-
8 lation and cardiac function in the absence of an arrest.
9 (2) "T-CPR" or "telecommunicator cardiopulmonary resuscitation" shall
10 mean dispatcher assisted, high quality CPR instruction given to callers
11 during a cardiac arrest.
12 (b) The board shall require that all 911 call-takers and dispatchers
13 complete T-CPR training and an annual follow-up training. Such T-CPR
14 training shall follow nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines
15 and shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following topics:
16 (1) recognizing signs of cardiac arrest during emergency calls;
17 (2) providing step-by-step instructions for initiating CPR
18 instructions to callers;
19 (3) coordinating with emergency medical services dispatch to ensure
20 timely arrival of medical assistance; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00863-02-5
A. 5371--A 2
1 (4) using automated external defibrillators when available and appro-
2 priate.
3 (c) All 911 call-takers and dispatchers employed before the effective
4 date of this subdivision shall complete such T-CPR training within
5 twelve months of the effective date of this subdivision and shall
6 complete a follow-up training annually thereafter. All 911 call-takers
7 and dispatchers hired after the effective date of this subdivision shall
8 complete such T-CPR training within twelve months of their employment
9 start date and shall complete a follow-up training annually thereafter.
10 § 2. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by
11 adding a new section 10-187 to read as follows:
12 § 10-187 911 call-takers and dispatchers T-CPR training. a. For the
13 purposes of this section:
14 1. "CPR" or "cardiopulmonary resuscitation" shall mean measures, as
15 specified in regulations promulgated by the commissioner of health, to
16 restore function or support ventilation in the event of a cardiac or
17 respiratory arrest. CPR shall not include measures to improve venti-
18 lation and cardiac function in the absence of an arrest.
19 2. "T-CPR" or "telecommunicator cardiopulmonary resuscitation" shall
20 mean dispatcher assisted high quality CPR instruction given to callers
21 during a cardiac arrest.
22 b. All 911 call-takers and dispatchers shall be required to complete
23 T-CPR training and an annual follow-up training. Such CPR training shall
24 follow nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines and shall
25 include, but shall not be limited to, the following topics:
26 1. recognizing signs of cardiac arrest during emergency calls;
27 2. providing step-by-step instructions for initiating CPR instructions
28 to callers;
29 3. coordinating with emergency medical services dispatch to ensure
30 timely arrival of medical assistance; and
31 4. using automated external defibrillators when available and appro-
32 priate.
33 c. All 911 call-takers and dispatchers employed before the effective
34 date of this section shall complete such T-CPR training within twelve
35 months of the effective date of this section and shall complete a
36 follow-up training annually thereafter. All 911 call-takers and
37 dispatchers hired after the effective date of this section shall
38 complete such T-CPR training within twelve months of their employment
39 start date and shall complete a follow-up training annually thereafter.
40 § 3. Severability clause. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivi-
41 sion, section or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of
42 competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect,
43 impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in
44 its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section
45 or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judg-
46 ment shall have been rendered. It is hereby declared to be the intent of
47 the legislature that this act would have been enacted even if such
48 invalid provisions had not been included herein.
49 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
