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| Date: | February 22, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Susan Closmore | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5712 | | Contact Email: | susan.closmore@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| Rep. Holberg and Sen. Hall Introduce “Hannah’s Law” Requires CPR Training for Teachers, Assistant Teachers in Child Care Centers |
ST. PAUL, February 22, 2011 – State Representative Mary Liz Holberg (R-Lakeville) and State Senator Dan Hall (R-Burnsville) today announced legislation that will require CPR training for all teachers and assistant teachers in child care centers.
“Hannah’s Law,” honors Hannah Kozitza, who died after choking on a grape while at a day care facility last summer.
“Hannah went to day care and never came home. We need to know that the people taking care of our children and grandchildren are able to respond to these situations,” said Ron Edlund, Hannah’s grandfather, who was in attendance at today’s press conference with Hannah’s parents, Justin and Jenni Kozitza, and nine-year-old sister, Madison. “Hannah was amazing, and that is why we are choosing to fight for other children just like her. “
Current law only requires one CPR-trained staff person to be present in a child care facility when children are present. Hannah’s Law would require all teachers and assistant teachers in child care centers to complete CPR training, including CPR for infants and children. It also requires at least one trained staff member to be present whenever a child is present at the facility or on field trips. Training is to be completed within 90 days of hire unless the individual has completed similar CPR training in the last three years. The bill is supported by the American Red Cross Twin Cities Chapter.
“If there is something that we as lawmakers can do to make sure this never happens again, we should do it,” said Representative Mary Liz Holberg. This bill will ensure that every teacher or assistant teacher at a child care facility will be trained to respond. The lives of our children and grandchildren are too valuable to not require training for all who take care of them.”
Senator Hall agrees. “Protecting children, like Hannah, from further incidents in the future is the aim and goal of this legislation. As a former first aid instructor, I sincerely hope that Hannah’s Law will not only improve preparedness at child care facilities, but will bring awareness to the public of the importance of emergency training for those that care for our children.”
The bill will receive its first hearing in the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee today at 2:30 p.m. It received its first hearing in the Minnesota Senate yesterday, and was referred to the Health and Human Services Committee.
For more information, contact Jodi Boyne in the Minnesota House at (651) 296-5522 or jodi.boyne@house.mn or Susan Closmore in the Minnesota Senate at (651) 296-5712 or susan.closmore@senate.mn.
