Pennsylvania AED laws: what AED owners need to know

Is an AED required at my organization?

Pennsylvania has no AED rule for every workplace. Two laws require AEDs in specific places:

• Schools with sports. Greg Moyer's Law (Act 17 of 2026, approved May 13, 2026) says each school entity and nonpublic school that participates in interscholastic athletics "shall have an automated external defibrillator situated in such a manner that is readily accessible for students participating in interscholastic athletics and practices" (School Code § 1423.3(a)). Schools must comply with §§ 1423.1 and 1423.3 "no later than three years after the effective date," which we read as May 13, 2029 (Act 17 of 2026, Section 6). These schools must also have a cardiac emergency response plan covering AED placement, reviewed every year, with annual cardiac arrest drills (§ 1423.1(f)).
• Health clubs open without staff. Health clubs must normally have a CPR-certified employee on the premises during all hours of operation. A club that opens during "nonstaffed hours" instead must equip the member area with "at least one automated external defibrillator," along with signs, a panic button, a 911 telephone and personal security devices (Health Club Act § 14(a), (c.1)).

Inspection and maintenance

The Good Samaritan AED law says any person who acquires and maintains an AED for use under the section shall "maintain and test the AED according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines" (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(b)(2)). It sets no inspection interval and no record-keeping rule.

Schools have the same manufacturer-guidelines duty, and each AED must meet the Department of Health's latest minimum specifications (§ 1423.3(d)). From June 30, 2027, every school entity and nonpublic school must report each year "the number, condition, age, expiration date and placement" of its AEDs to the Department of Education (§ 1423.2(i)).

Training

AED owners must "ensure that expected AED users receive training" (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(b)(1)). That training must be "consistent with American Red Cross, American Heart Association or other national standards" approved by the Department of Health (§ 8331.2(c)). The law sets no headcount for most owners.

• Schools: must offer CPR and AED instruction to employees and volunteers at least every two years. Public school entities must have at least one person trained and certified in AED use and CPR in each school building every school day. In public school entities, each school nurse (or designee), coach, marching band director, physical education teacher and athletic trainer must take part in the training, and training records go in each person's file (§ 1423.1). Schools with sports must have people trained and certified in CPR and AED use at each AED location (§ 1423.1(b)(2), (c)(1)).
• Health clubs: must have an employee trained and certified in CPR on the premises during hours of operation, and more than one such employee if open more than eight hours a day and more than five days a week, unless using the nonstaffed-hours exception (Health Club Act § 14).

Medical direction

Not addressed. Section 8331.2 does not mention a physician's prescription, oversight or medical direction. Act 17 of 2026 repealed the old school AED program section, which had required "a valid prescription for the device"; the new program section does not repeat it (Act 17, Sections 4 and 5).

Separately from state law, many AED models are sold on a prescription under FDA labeling; your supplier can tell you.

EMS notification

Not addressed. None of the laws we read requires owners to register an AED with EMS or a 911 center. Schools instead report their AEDs to the Department of Education each year (§ 1423.2(i)).

After the AED is used

AED owners must "provide instruction requiring the user of the AED to utilize available means to immediately contact and activate the emergency medical services system." They must also make sure "any appropriate data or information is made available" to EMS personnel or other health care providers "as requested" (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(b)(3), (4)).

Signs and posted instructions

Only for health clubs open during nonstaffed hours. They must post "a sign posted in plain view by each automated external defibrillator" with instructions for its use, and a sign warning that working out alone may pose health and safety risks. Members must also be told the AED's location at orientation or renewal (Health Club Act § 14(c.1), (d)). Schools with sports must place an AED where it is readily accessible for athletes (§ 1423.3(a)), but no sign rule applies.

Good Samaritan immunity

The statute says any person who "in good faith acquires and maintains an AED or uses an AED in an emergency" is not liable for civil damages from acts or omissions by an AED user. The exceptions are acts "intentionally designed to harm" and grossly negligent acts that result in harm (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(a)). A user who obstructs or interferes with care by EMS personnel or a health professional is not protected (§ 8331.2(d)). The same protection applies to school employees and volunteers who give care with an AED (School Code § 1423.3(c)). The law doesn't say whether an owner that hasn't met the duties above keeps this protection; ask a lawyer.

What this means for your AED program

• Maintain and test each AED following the manufacturer's operational guidelines. The law sets no interval or record rule, so a dated log of each check is the simplest way to show it was done.
• Make a list of your expected AED users and keep their training current to Red Cross, AHA or other approved national standards.
• Give users instructions to call 911 immediately, and be ready to share AED data with EMS or the hospital when asked.
• Schools with sports: plan for AED access at games and practices and for staff training. All schools: the first annual AED report is due by June 30, 2027.
• Health clubs with nonstaffed hours: post use instructions by each AED and cover its location in member orientation.

Sources

All read on 2026-11-13 on the official site, palegis.us.

• 42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2: Good Samaritan civil immunity for use of AED (statute; last amended July 5, 2012, P.L.1081, No.125)
• Act 17 of 2026 (Greg Moyer's Law): adds Public School Code §§ 1423.1 to 1423.3 and repeals § 1423 (statute; effective May 13, 2026)
• Health Club Act § 14: employee available to administer CPR; nonstaffed hours (statute; amended July 5, 2012, P.L.967, No.106)

All are statutes. We found no state regulation on AED owner duties.

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FAQ

Is an AED required in Pennsylvania gyms?

Only in some cases. Pennsylvania's Health Club Act requires a CPR-certified employee on site during hours of operation. An AED is required only if the club opens during nonstaffed hours, in place of that employee (Health Club Act § 14).

Do Pennsylvania schools need AEDs?

Yes, if they take part in interscholastic athletics. Greg Moyer's Law requires an AED readily accessible for athletes at games and practices, with compliance due within three years of May 13, 2026 (School Code § 1423.3).

Does Pennsylvania's Good Samaritan law protect businesses that own an AED?

It protects any person who in good faith acquires and maintains an AED, except for intentional harm or gross negligence. The same section lists owner duties: training expected users, maintaining and testing the AED, instructing users to call EMS and sharing data with EMS on request (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2). The law doesn't say whether an owner that hasn't met these duties keeps this protection; ask a lawyer.