SB 5979-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)

     Finds that establishing a school safety center will provide school districts with: The assistance necessary to create a consistent, comprehensive approach to school safety for every school and every school district; the means to share safety information among school districts; and a process for schools to effectively integrate safe school planning with emergency preparedness personnel, the criminal justice training commission, and local, county, and state law enforcement officers.

     Establishes the school safety center in the office of the superintendent of public instruction.  The superintendent of public instruction shall participate in a school safety center advisory committee that includes representatives of educators, classified staff, principals, superintendents, administrators, the American society for industrial security, the state criminal justice training commission, and others deemed appropriate and approved by the school safety center advisory committee.

     Declares that a consistent comprehensive approach to school safety includes a comprehensive safe school plan and implementation of the plan.  Each school district shall direct schools in its district to develop, by September 1, 2003, a comprehensive safe school plan.  The plan shall cover prevention, intervention, all hazards and crisis response, and postcrisis recovery.

     Provides that staff, students, parents, the community, law enforcement, and emergency preparedness shall be involved in the development and implementation of the plan.

     Directs the office of the superintendent of public instruction to contract with an independent vendor to establish the school safety hotline.

     Provides that the act shall be null and void if appropriations are not approved.