Requires 911 call-takers and dispatchers to complete CPR training which shall include recognizing signs of cardiac arrest during emergency calls, providing instructions for initiating CPR 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: A5371
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 CPR training for 911 call-takers
and dispatchers
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill requires CPR 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 and requiring all 911 call-takers and
dispatchers to complete annual CPR training; 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 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-ofhospital
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 (American 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 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
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 13, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, CUNNINGHAM, GLICK, SANTABARBARA, SAYEGH,
SHIMSKY, STECK, TAPIA, K. BROWN -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the county law and the administrative code of the city
of New York, in relation to requiring CPR 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, "CPR" or "cardiopulmo-
4 nary resuscitation" shall mean measures, as specified in regulations
5 promulgated by the commissioner of health, to restore function or
6 support ventilation in the event of a cardiac or respiratory arrest. CPR
7 shall not include measures to improve ventilation and cardiac function
8 in the absence of an arrest.
9 (b) The board shall require that all 911 call-takers and dispatchers
10 complete CPR training and an annual follow-up training. Such CPR train-
11 ing shall follow nationally recognized guidelines and shall include, but
12 shall not be limited to, the following topics:
13 (1) recognizing signs of cardiac arrest during emergency calls;
14 (2) providing step-by-step instructions for initiating CPR to callers;
15 (3) coordinating with emergency medical services dispatch to ensure
16 timely arrival of medical assistance; and
17 (4) using automated external defibrillators when available and appro-
18 priate.
19 (c) All 911 call-takers and dispatchers employed before the effective
20 date of this subdivision shall complete such CPR training within twelve
21 months of the effective date of this subdivision and shall complete a
22 follow-up training annually thereafter. All 911 call-takers and
23 dispatchers hired after the effective date of this subdivision shall
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00863-01-5
A. 5371 2
1 complete such CPR training within twelve months of their employment
2 start date and shall complete a follow-up training annually thereafter.
3 § 2. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by
4 adding a new section 10-187 to read as follows:
5 § 10-187 911 call-takers and dispatchers CPR training. a. For the
6 purposes of this section, "CPR" or "cardiopulmonary resuscitation" shall
7 mean measures, as specified in regulations promulgated by the commis-
8 sioner of health, to restore function or support ventilation in the
9 event of a cardiac or respiratory arrest. CPR shall not include measures
10 to improve ventilation and cardiac function in the absence of an arrest.
11 b. All 911 call-takers and dispatchers shall be required to complete
12 CPR training and an annual follow-up training. Such CPR training shall
13 follow nationally recognized guidelines and shall include, but shall not
14 be limited to, the following topics:
15 1. recognizing signs of cardiac arrest during emergency calls;
16 2. providing step-by-step instructions for initiating CPR to callers;
17 3. coordinating with emergency medical services dispatch to ensure
18 timely arrival of medical assistance; and
19 4. using automated external defibrillators when available and appro-
20 priate.
21 c. All 911 call-takers and dispatchers employed before the effective
22 date of this section shall complete such CPR training within twelve
23 months of the effective date of this section and shall complete a
24 follow-up training annually thereafter. All 911 call-takers and
25 dispatchers hired after the effective date of this section shall
26 complete such CPR training within twelve months of their employment
27 start date and shall complete a follow-up training annually thereafter.
28 § 3. Severability clause. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivi-
29 sion, section or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of
30 competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect,
31 impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in
32 its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section
33 or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judg-
34 ment shall have been rendered. It is hereby declared to be the intent of
35 the legislature that this act would have been enacted even if such
36 invalid provisions had not been included herein.
37 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
