FINAL BILL REPORT

EHB 1003

C 37 L 16

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning the development of a model policy on natural disaster school infrastructure recovery.

Sponsors: Representatives Hawkins, Lytton, Magendanz, Bergquist, Hayes, Robinson, Parker, Ortiz-Self, Harris, Reykdal, Johnson, Senn, Muri, Farrell, Klippert, Pollet, Nealey, Manweller, Kretz, Hargrove, Appleton, Gregerson, Condotta, Kilduff and Walkinshaw.

House Committee on Education

Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

Background:

Safe School Plans.

School districts must adopt comprehensive Safe School Plans that prepare them for on-campus emergencies, security issues, and large scale disasters. The plans, among other things, must:

• include required school safety policies and procedures;

• address emergency mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery; and

• use the training guidance provided by the Washington Emergency Management Division of the state Military Department (EMD) and the School Safety Center.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's (OSPI's) School Safety Center developed a School Safety Planning Manual, with chapters on Safe School Plans and responding to emergencies and disasters. In 2008 the OSPI developed a Safe School Plan Compliance Checklist to assist districts with determining the degree to which their plans comply with law; this checklist does not include items related to post-crisis recovery or restoring a safe learning environment after a disaster.

Washington Emergency Management Division.

The EMD's mission is to minimize the impact of emergencies and disasters on the people, property, environment, and economy of Washington, including the impact on schools.

Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) helps citizens and first responders prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. In 2013 the FEMA, with other federal agencies, published Guidelines for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operation Plans and Sample School Emergency Operations Plans.

Washington State School Directors' Association.

The Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) provides leadership and advocacy for school leaders, professional development and training for school board members, and policy and legal services for school districts.

Summary:

The WSSDA is directed to develop a model policy addressing restoration of the safe learning environment disrupted by natural disaster impacts to school district infrastructures, and distribute the policy to districts by August 31, 2017, with encouragement to adopt the model policy and review the districts' Safe School Plans.

In developing the policy, the WSSDA may consult with stakeholders, including the appropriate resources within the OSPI, the EMD, risk management entities that work with school districts, nonprofit experts in disaster recovery, Educational Service Districts, and school districts affected by natural disasters.

The model policy must:

• take into consideration any guidance on infrastructure recovery developed by the FEMA and the EMD;

• include an infrastructure recovery checklist that a school impacted by a natural disaster can use to restore its essential physical and organizational structures, services, and facilities;

• list the offices or divisions of state agencies that school districts may contact for assistance with infrastructure recovery after a natural disaster;

• list examples of state and federal emergency funding sources for which school districts impacted by a natural disaster have qualified; and

• include a model continuity of operations plan for use by school districts.

Votes on Final Passage:

2015 Regular Session

2016 Regular Session