The Georgia Legislature is examining two unrelated bills in the waning days of this year’s session that would affect hunters and high school kids across the state.

One of the bills — Senate Bill 212 — would require state high schools to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillator training in its existing health or physical education classes. The other proposed law, Senate Bill 136, would alter game and fish regulations.

Jeff Bearden, superintendent of Rome City Schools, said he supported the concept of implementing CPR training. Making it a reality, however, could prove difficult.

“The intent of the legislation is, I think, obviously, positive,” Bearden said. “Again, the devil is in the details.”

Health and P.E. classes already have their curriculum set, Bearden said. In order to include CPR, another aspect of the class must be cut.

“The question is, what do we take out of the curriculum?” Bearden said. “The curriculum is full.”

Bearden pointed to several questions he has about the legislation, including how in-depth the training must be.

The legislation doesn’t require the teacher to be CPR certified or certify students.

“We’ll wait and see what happens with this legislation,” Bearden said.

The situation is different for Floyd County Schools, said Tim Hensley, assistant to the county schools superintendent. County schools already have CPR training in their health classes.

“The big change will be the defibrillator training,” Hensley said.

County schools already have defibrillators in the middle and high schools, and Hensley likes the idea of having more people trained in their use. He suggested that a group such as the Red Cross could help with the training.

“It’s a good opportunity to make community partnerships,” he added.

The bill is currently under consideration in the state House of Representatives.

Hunting law changes

Tommy Jones, 70, has hunted since he was a child. When Jones heard about the proposed changes to game and fish laws — including a stricter limit for a hunter’s legal blood alcohol content — he agreed.

“We don’t need anyone with a firearm with alcohol in the system at all,” Jones said. “If they want to drink a beer or something, that’s fine. But getting out there with a gun is not a smart thing to do.”

Current law sets the legal BAC at .10 for hunters. The change would make it .08 — the same limit for someone behind the wheel.

“A true hunter is not going to get out there and get drunk,” Jones said. “I don’t think a responsible hunter would put up with it.”

Senate Bill 136 also amends the regulations for the age someone must be to rent a boat, among other changes. It’s currently under consideration by the state House.