Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Education Committee |
2SSB 5252
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Creating a program to implement regional safety and security centers.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Dammeier, McAuliffe, King, Litzow and Angel).
Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 3/23/15
Staff: Cece Clynch (786-7195).
Background:
Educational Service Districts (ESDs) provide cooperative, administrative, and informational services to and on behalf of school districts. The nine regional ESDs in Washington also assist the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education in the performance of their duties.
The ESD 105, in south-central Washington, created a School Safety and Security program that helps schools with prevention, protection, mitigation of harm, effective response, and recovery. The school safety and security program provides schools with technical assistance, resource networking, and collaboration to develop comprehensive plans, including the capabilities necessary to:
avoid, deter, or stop an imminent crime or mass-casualty incident;
secure schools against acts of violence and man-made or natural disasters;
eliminate or reduce the loss of life and property damage;
stabilize an emergency;
establish a safe and secure environment;
facilitate the transition to recovery; and
assist schools affected by an event or emergency in restoring the learning environment.
Summary of Bill:
Educational Service Districts (ESDs) may implement a regional school safety and security program modeled after the program already created. Such a program should include the following components:
establishment of a network of school safety coordinators for the ESDs, which shall focus on prevention planning, intervention, mitigation, crisis response, and community recovery regarding emergency incidents in schools;
collaboration with the ESD that developed the model;
creation of technology-based systems that enable more efficient and effective communication between schools and emergency response entities;
provision of technology support to improve communication and data management between schools and emergency response entities;
ongoing training of school personnel and emergency responders to establish a system for preventative identification, intervention strategies, and management of risk behaviors;
development of professional development to train school personnel as first responders until the arrival of emergency responders; and
building collaborative relationships between other ESDs, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the school safety advisory committee.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.