New AED Laws in New York and Pennsylvania: What Your Organization Needs to Know

Two states have just reshaped what it means to own and operate an automated external defibrillator (AED). New York has overhauled its entire public access defibrillation framework, and Pennsylvania has enacted sweeping new AED requirements for schools. If your organization operates in either state — or you manage AED programs across multiple states — these changes affect how you acquire, register, maintain, and respond with your devices. Here is what changed and what it means for you.

New York Overhauls Its Public Access Defibrillation Framework

New York's newly enacted legislation represents one of the most significant restructurings of AED oversight in recent memory. For years, owning and operating an AED in New York required a physician collaborative agreement. That requirement is now gone, with regulatory authority shifting directly to the state Department of Health.

The key changes include:

• Eliminating the physician collaborative agreement requirement for AED ownership and operation, removing a long-standing administrative hurdle for businesses, schools, and other organizations.
• Designating the Department of Health as the primary regulatory authority for public access defibrillation programs.
• Creating a statewide AED registration system administered by the Department of Health, along with a publicly accessible database of AED locations.
• Revising training requirements to rely on Department-approved standards.
• Updating post-use reporting and requiring AED-use data to be reported to the Department of Health, feeding a new statewide cardiac arrest surveillance and quality improvement framework.
• Requiring manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and resellers to notify purchasers of their legal obligations at the point of sale.
• Retaining AED location signage requirements for buildings and facilities.

What it means for you: Acquiring an AED in New York is now simpler in one respect — no more physician oversight agreement — but it comes with new responsibilities around registration, signage, and incident reporting. If you operate AEDs in New York, plan to register each device, confirm your signage is compliant, and build post-use reporting into your emergency response procedures. As a buyer, you should also expect your supplier to walk you through your obligations; that notification is now part of the law.

Pennsylvania Strengthens School AED Requirements

Pennsylvania's new law focuses squarely on schools, building a comprehensive cardiac emergency preparedness standard around training, response planning, and device readiness. It applies to public school entities and nonpublic schools alike.

The new requirements include:

• CPR and AED training offered to employees and volunteers at least once every two years.
• A trained, CPR/AED-certified individual present in every school building during each school day.
• Mandatory certification for school nurses (or their designees), coaches, athletic trainers, physical education teachers, and marching band directors.
• Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) for schools participating in interscholastic athletics, based on nationally recognized standards, with annual response drills to test them.
• Readily accessible AEDs for athletic events and practices, maintained and tested to Department of Health specifications.
• Annual reporting to the Department of Education beginning June 30, 2027, detailing AED inventory, condition, age, expiration dates, and locations.
• A statewide AED purchasing program offering schools discounted pricing and potential financial assistance, plus grant funding for nonpublic schools.
• Expanded Good Samaritan immunity for school employees and volunteers who use an AED in an emergency.

What it means for you: Pennsylvania schools now have a clear, auditable standard to meet. If you manage safety for a district or a nonpublic school, the practical to-do list is substantial: schedule recurring CPR/AED training, ensure certified coverage in every building, draft or update your Cardiac Emergency Response Plan, run an annual drill, and put a system in place to track every device's location and expiration dates ahead of the 2027 reporting deadline. The statewide purchasing program and nonpublic-school grants are worth exploring to offset the cost of new or replacement units.

Why This Matters Beyond New York and Pennsylvania

These updates are part of a broader, steady trend. All 50 states already have public access defibrillation laws on the books, and the direction of travel is consistent: more devices in more public places, clearer training and maintenance standards, formal response planning, and registration or reporting so that AEDs are not just present but verifiably ready. Schools, gyms, and large public venues continue to be focal points because that is where large groups gather and where sudden cardiac arrest is most likely to be witnessed.

For any organization operating across state lines, the lesson is that "we bought an AED" is no longer the finish line. Compliance increasingly means an ongoing program: trained responders, documented plans, maintained equipment, and accurate records.

How to Stay Compliant and Rescue-Ready

Wherever you operate, a few fundamentals keep you both compliant and prepared:

• Register your devices where required, and keep records of make, model, location, and serial number.
• Track pad and battery expiration dates for every unit, and replace consumables before they lapse.
• Confirm signage marks each AED's location clearly.
• Train and recertify responders on the schedule your state requires.
• Build a cardiac emergency response plan and, for schools and athletic programs, run drills against it.
• Tap available funding — statewide purchasing programs and grants can significantly lower your cost of compliance.

A Note on Compliance

This article is a general summary intended to help you understand recent legislative changes. It is not legal advice. AED laws vary by state and are updated frequently. Always confirm your specific obligations against the current statute and with appropriate legal counsel or your state Department of Health.

AED Professionals helps organizations stay compliant and rescue-ready. From FDA-cleared AEDs and value packages to replacement pads, batteries, cabinets, signage, and program support, we make it straightforward to equip — and maintain — your locations. Browse our AEDs or reach out for help building a multi-site program that meets your state's requirements.