Pols fight to pass ‘Briana’s Law’ before session ends
Calling it a crucial piece of legislation that will save lives, assembly members Felix Ortiz and Nicole Malliotakis are working against the clock for passage of “Briana’s Law,” a bill that would mandate the retraining cops in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The assembly passed the bill, but the legislation is stalled in the senate. Ortiz (D-Sunset Park), the sponsor of the bill, and Malliotakis (R-C-Bay Ridge-Staten Island) are working against a tight deadline to secure passage in the state senate before the legislative term ends.
“Briana’s Law” is named in honor of Briana Ojeda, an 11-year-old Carroll Gardens girl who suffered a severe asthma attack while playing in a park and died in August of 2010. Briana’s mother was rushing her to the hospital when they were stopped by a police officer. The officer refused to administer CPR, claiming he did not know how to perform it, Ortiz said.