MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Representative Barnett (92nd)

AN ACT TO REQUIRE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR) TRAINING AS A CONDITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-13-131 AND 37-13-151, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM AND A COURSE OFFERED THROUGH THE HOME ECONOMICS PROGRAM TO INCLUDE CPR TRAINING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. In addition to all other requirements for graduation prescribed by the State Board of Education and local school boards, a student must successfully complete training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in a high school as a condition for graduation from a public high school in Mississippi.

SECTION 2. Section 37-13-131, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-13-131. (1) The State Department of Education is designated as the state agency responsible for the administration and supervision of the Comprehensive School Health Education Program as an educational curriculum in the State of Mississippi. It is the intent of the Legislature that all funds made available to the State Department of Education for the purpose of comprehensive school health education shall be administered by the State Department of Education.

(2) Pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the State Department of Education is authorized to establish an Office of Comprehensive School Health Education within the framework of the State Department of Education for the purpose of developing standards, procedures and criteria for the administration and supervision of a statewide program of health education in Kindergarten through Grade 12. The State Department of Education, through the Office of Comprehensive School Health Education, shall assume the further responsibility for promoting a statewide effort designed to prepare local school faculties and staffs to incorporate the comprehensive health education concept into their local educational programs.

(3) The Mississippi Department of Health, in conjunction with the Office of Student Development-Branch of Health-Related Services of the State Department of Education, shall develop a long-range strategic plan for a Comprehensive School Health Education Program in Grades K through 12. The Comprehensive School Health Education Program shall encompass four (4) interdependent components: (a) health education; (b) health service, including training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); (c) physical education and fitness; and (d) a healthful school environment. These curriculum components shall be designed to develop decision-making competencies related to health and health behavior. Such curriculum components are intended to motivate health maintenance and promote wellness, not only to prevent disease or disability. The Mississippi Department of Health, in conjunction with the Office of Student Development-Branch of Health-Related Services of the Department of Education, shall develop the strategic plan * * *.

SECTION 3. Section 37-13-151, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-13-151.  * * * All local school districts shall provide programs of education in home economics, in Grade 10, 11 or 12, which include course work in responsible parenting and family living skills. These programs shall contain instruction to prepare students to understand children's physical, mental, emotional and social growth and development as well as to assume responsibility for their care and guidance, with emphasis and training on nutrition, emotional health, physical health and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). All such programs shall be subject to the approval of the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 37-31-205(1)(d).

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.