AB 2144 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

The California Youth Cardiac Screening Pilot Program.

Summary

The Eric Paredes Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act requires the State Department of Education to post on its internet website guidelines, videos, and an information sheet on sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and warning signs, and other relevant materials relating to sudden cardiac arrest. The act also places certain duties on schools related to sudden cardiac arrest and requires athletic directors, coaches, athletic trainers, or authorized persons, as defined, to remove from participation a pupil who passes out or faints while participating in or immediately following an athletic activity. This bill would require the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to establish the California Youth Cardiac Screening Pilot Program to provide, among other things, free cardiac screening for pupils in grades 5 to 12, inclusive, for the 2027–28 to 2029–30 school years, inclusive, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to administer the program itself or to contract with a nonprofit organization to administer the program and certain funding, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to receive voluntary or reduced-cost services from medical providers and other individuals related to the program. The bill would require the department to annually report certain information to the Department of Finance and to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, and would repeal the bill's provisions related to the pilot program on January 1, 2031.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 18, 2026 Last action Mar 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

02/18/26 - Introduced → 03/18/26 - Amended Assembly · 10 edits · Mar 18, 2026

MAJOR

AB 2144 was substantially expanded from a narrow amendment requiring two CPR-certified adults at pool events to a much broader bill that establishes a three-year state-funded pilot program for free cardiac screening of students in grades 5 through 12. The amendment adds legislative findings on sudden cardiac arrest in youth, creates the California Youth Cardiac Screening Pilot Program under the State Department of Education with a sunset date of January 1, 2031, and retains the original pool safety requirement change from one to two certified adults.

Scope change

The bill expanded from a single-section amendment to pool event safety requirements into a multi-section bill that also creates an entirely new state pilot program for youth cardiac screening, repeals an old operative date section, and adds legislative findings. The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' reflecting the new funding implications of the pilot program.

SCOPE

Added a new three-year pilot program (California Youth Cardiac Screening Pilot Program) requiring free cardiac screening for pupils in grades 5 through 12 during the 2027-28 through 2029-30 school years, including at minimum a cardiac risk assessment and, if indicated, an electrocardiogram interpreted by a physician.

Added a new Section 1 containing legislative findings and declarations about sudden cardiac arrest in youth, including statistics on prevalence, survival rates below 10 percent, and the need for combined risk assessment and ECG screening.

FISCAL

The program is contingent on legislative appropriation. The State Department of Education may contract with a nonprofit organization to administer the program and its funding, or administer it directly. The department may also receive voluntary or reduced-cost services from medical providers.

ELIGIBILITY

School participation in the pilot program is voluntary for both public and private schools, including charter schools. The department must select a sample representing the ethnic, economic, and urban/rural composition of the state to the extent practicable.

REQUIREMENT

If a cardiac risk assessment identifies risk factors or an onsite physician advises it, further testing including an ECG must be conducted. If a pupil is found at risk after ECG interpretation, the department or administering nonprofit must ensure referral to a physician for further evaluation.

Section 35179.6(b)(2) was changed from requiring at least one adult with valid CPR certification to at least two adults for school-sponsored events in or around swimming pools that are not part of an interscholastic athletic program.

ENFORCEMENT

Annual reporting requirements were added: the administering entity must report the number of pupils screened, their ages, number of cardiac referrals, and economic and ethnic diversity data. Reports are due by September 30 each year to the Department of Finance and appropriate legislative policy and fiscal committees.

TIMELINE

The new Section 33480 includes a sunset provision: it remains in effect only until January 1, 2031, and is repealed as of that date.

DEFINITION

Added a definition of 'physician and surgeon' as a person licensed by the Medical Board of California or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California under the Medical Practice Act.

TECHNICAL

Repealed Section 33479.9 of the Education Code, which was a prior operative date provision (operative on July 1, 2017).

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

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Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on ED.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ED. Read second time and amended.

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on ED.

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors