AB 1819: Automated external defibrillators.
<p>The bill requires senior centers, including those run by local governments, to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) and meet specific training and maintenance standards. It also provides immunity from civil damages for employees, volunteers, and board members of senior centers who use or attempt to use the AED in emergencies, except in cases involving gross negligence or willful misconduct. The bill mandates that owners, managers, and responsible authorities are not liable for civil damages unless certain criteria are met. Additionally, it establishes a state-mandated local program if the bill imposes additional duties on local governments.</p>
| May. 14, 2026 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| May. 06, 2026 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr. 27, 2026 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr. 23, 2026 | Read second time and amended. |
| Apr. 22, 2026 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 21). |
| Amended IN Assembly April 23, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly April 13, 2026 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Sanchez (Coauthor: Senator Dahle) |
February 10, 2026 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
This bill would additionally require senior centers, including senior centers run by a local government, as defined, to have an AED. The bill would require a senior center to meet specified training and maintenance standards relating to the AED. The bill would provide that if a senior center employee or volunteer uses, does not use, or attempts to use an AED, the employee or volunteer and the members of the senior center’s board of directors are not liable for civil damages, except in the case of personal injury or wrongful death that results from gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct by the person who uses, attempts to use, or maliciously fails to use an automatic external defibrillator to render emergency care or treatment. The bill would provide that the owners, managers, employees, volunteers, or otherwise responsible authorities of a senior center are not liable for civil damages resulting from an act or omission in the course of rendering emergency care or treatment, unless specified criteria are met. To the extent this bill imposes additional duties on a local government, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 19300 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:19300.
(a) This chapter applies to all of the following structures, as defined in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 301.1) of Part 2, the California Building Code, of Title 24, the California Building Standards Code, of the California Code of Regulations, that are constructed on or after January 1, 2017, or are constructed prior to January 1, 2017, and modified, renovated, or tenant improved, as described in subdivision (b), subsequent to that date:(B)A senior center, as defined in Section 19301, with a capacity of over 50 people, including senior centers run by a local government entity.
(a)A senior center shall acquire, maintain, and train personnel in the use of, an automatic external defibrillator pursuant to this section.
(b)An employee or volunteer of a senior center who renders emergency care or treatment is not liable for civil damages resulting from the use, attempted use, or nonuse of an automatic external defibrillator, except as provided in subdivision (f).
(c)When an employee or volunteer uses, does not use, or attempts to use an automatic external defibrillator consistent with the requirements of this section to render emergency care or treatment, the members of the board of directors of the facility shall not be liable for civil damages resulting from an act or omission in rendering the emergency care or treatment, including the use or nonuse of an automatic external defibrillator, except as provided in subdivision (f).
(d)Except as provided in subdivisions (f) and (g), when an employee or volunteer of a senior center renders emergency care or treatment using an automatic external defibrillator, the owners, managers, employees, volunteers, or otherwise responsible authorities of the facility shall not be liable for civil damages resulting from an act or omission in the course of rendering that emergency care or treatment, provided that the facility fully complies with subdivision (e).
(e)Notwithstanding Section 1797.196, in order to ensure public safety, a senior center shall do all of the following:
(1)Comply with all regulations governing the placement of an automatic external defibrillator.
(2)Ensure all of the following:
(A)The automatic external defibrillator is maintained and regularly tested according to the operation and maintenance guidelines set forth by the manufacturer, the American Heart Association, or the American Red Cross, and according to any applicable rules and regulations set forth by the governmental authority under the federal Food and Drug Administration and any other applicable state and federal authority.
(B)The automatic external defibrillator is checked for readiness after each use and at least once every 30 days if the automatic external defibrillator has not been used in the preceding 30 days. The senior center shall maintain records of these checks.
(C)Ensure that a person who renders emergency care or treatment to a person in cardiac arrest by using an automatic external defibrillator activates the emergency medical services system as soon as possible, and reports the use of the automatic external defibrillator to the licensed physician and to the local EMS agency.
(D)Ensure that for every automatic external defibrillator unit acquired, up to five units, no less than one employee or volunteer per automatic external defibrillator unit shall complete a training course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automatic external defibrillator use that complies with the regulations adopted by the Emergency Medical Services Authority and the standards of the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. After the first five automatic external defibrillator units are acquired, for each additional five automatic external defibrillator units acquired, a minimum of one employee or volunteer shall be trained, beginning with the first additional automatic external defibrillator unit acquired. Acquirers of automatic external defibrillator units shall have trained employees or volunteers who should be available to respond to an emergency that may involve the use of an automatic external defibrillator unit during staffed operating hours. Acquirers of automatic external defibrillator units may need to train additional employees or volunteers to ensure that a trained employee or volunteer is available at all times.
(E)Ensure that there is a written plan that exists that describes the procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency that may involve the use of an automatic external defibrillator to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section. The written plan shall include, but not be limited to, immediate notification of 911 and trained office personnel at the start of automatic external defibrillator procedures.
(3)A senior center that allows individuals access to its facility during times when it does not have an employee or volunteer on the premises shall do all of the following:
(A)Require that all employees who work on the senior center’s premises complete a training course, within 30 days of beginning employment, in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use that complies with the regulations adopted by the Emergency Medical Services Authority and the standards of the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
(B)Ensure that a trained employee or volunteer is on the senior center’s premises for no fewer than 50 hours per week.
(C)Inform an individual, at the time they contract for the use of the senior center, that a trained employee or volunteer will not be on the senior center’s premises at all times.
(D)Deny access to the senior when an employee or volunteer is not present if the senior center operates in a space that is larger than 6,000 square feet.
(f)Subdivisions (b), (c), and (d) do not apply in the case of personal injury or wrongful death that results from gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct on the part of the person who uses, attempts to use, or maliciously fails to use an automatic external defibrillator to render emergency care or treatment.
(g)A senior center that allows access to its facilities during operating hours when employees or volunteers trained in the use of automatic external defibrillators are not on the facility premises, waives the provisions of subdivision (d) and the affirmative defense of primary assumption of the risk, whether express or implied, as to a claim arising out of the absence of trained staff.
(h)For purposes of this section, “senior center” means a facility that primarily serves seniors who are 55 years of age or older and is a community focal point on aging, where older individuals as individuals or in groups come together for services and activities which enhance their dignity, support their independence, and encourage their involvement in and with the community. Senior center programs consist of a variety of services and activities in areas, such as education, creative arts, recreation, advocacy, leadership development, employment, health, nutrition, social work, and other supportive services.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.