H-0895.1/91       _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 1266

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Valle, Fuhrman, Spanel, Betrozoff, Phillips, Miller, Jacobsen, R. King, Wineberry and Scott.

 

Read first time January 25, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Education.Requiring earthquake preparedness policies for public schools.


     AN ACT Relating to seismic safety in public schools; creating new sections; making an appropriation; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.      Each school district board of directors shall adopt an earthquake preparedness policy by January 1, 1992.  The policy shall include but not be limited to:

     (1)  Training all students and school employees in earthquake safety and earthquake hazard mitigation procedures;

     (2)  A minimum of twice yearly earthquake drills;

     (3)  Notifying parents annually of school earthquake procedures;

     (4)  Coordinating earthquake response with the local office of emergency management and other immediate response organizations, communications organizations, and utilities;

     (5)      A plan for meeting the first aid and safety needs of students and staff for seventy-two hours following an earthquake; and

     (6)  A plan for identifying and correcting by 1996 nonstructural earthquake hazards in all school district facilities used for school purposes.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.      From funds appropriated for this purpose, the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the department of community development, shall select, train, and work with a group of educational service district or school district personnel to provide assistance to school districts in:

     (1) Assessing the seismic stability of their facilities;

     (2) Planning for repairs, rehabilitation, or rebuilding; and

     (3) Implementing the policies under section 1 of this act.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.      The sum of forty-nine thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1993, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of section 2 of this act.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.      This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1991.