2SSB 5197 -
By Committee on Capital Budget
ADOPTED 04/15/2013
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 A new section is added to chapter 28A.320
RCW to read as follows:
School districts must work collaboratively with local law
enforcement agencies and school security personnel to develop an
emergency response system using evolving technology to expedite the
response and arrival of law enforcement in the event of a threat or
emergency at a school. School districts are encouraged to use the
model policies developed by the school safety advisory committee of the
office of the superintendent of public instruction as a resource. Each
school district must submit a progress report on its implementation of
an emergency response system as required under this section to the
office of the superintendent of public instruction by December 1, 2014.
Sec. 2 RCW 28A.335.010 and 1969 ex.s. c 223 s 28A.58.102 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) Every board of directors, unless otherwise specifically
provided by law, shall:
(((1))) (a) Cause all school buildings to be properly heated,
lighted, and ventilated and maintained in a clean and sanitary
condition; and
(((2))) (b) Maintain and repair, furnish, and insure such school
buildings.
(2) Every board of directors, unless otherwise specifically
provided by law, shall also:
(a) Consider installing a perimeter security control mechanism or
system on all school campuses, as appropriate to the design of the
campus; and
(b) For new school construction projects or remodeling projects of
more than forty percent of an existing school building that are
initiated after the effective date of this section, consider school
building plans and designs that promote:
(i) An optimal level of security for the specific school site that
incorporates evolving technology and best practices to protect students
and staff in the event of a threat during school hours;
(ii) Direct control and observation of the public entering school
grounds; and
(iii) The public entering school grounds through as few entrances
as possible, such as through the main entrance of a school's
administrative offices.
(3) The purpose of subsection (2) of this section is to promote
generally the safety of all students and staff in Washington public
schools. Nothing in subsection (2) of this section creates any civil
liability for school districts, or creates a new cause of action or new
theory of negligence against a school district board of directors, a
school district, or the state.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 (1) The school safety advisory committee
convened by the office of the superintendent of public instruction
shall develop model policies and strategies for school districts and
local law enforcement agencies to design emergency response systems
using evolving technology to expedite the response and arrival of law
enforcement in the event of a threat or emergency at a school. The
committee shall develop policies and strategies appropriate for a range
of different threat or emergency scenarios.
(2)(a) The school safety advisory committee shall also develop
recommendations related to incorporating school safety features in the
planning and design of new or remodeled school facilities. The
recommendations shall address, at a minimum:
(i) Options to address public access to school buildings and
grounds;
(ii) Interior design features to address public access to
classrooms; and
(iii) Options and best practices to protect students and staff in
the event of a threat during school hours.
(b) The recommendations shall consider and provide flexibility
regarding varying campus designs, geographic locations, site-specific
needs, grade-level configurations, cost-effectiveness, and coordination
with local law enforcement in a manner suitable to the locale.
(3) The school safety advisory committee shall submit a report to
the education committees of the legislature by December 1, 2013, and
post the report, model policies and recommendations developed under
this section, and other resource information to assist school districts
on the school safety center web site.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 A new section is added to chapter 28A.300
RCW to read as follows:
Subject to funds appropriated specifically for this purpose, the
office of the superintendent of public instruction shall allocate
grants to school districts on a competitive basis for the purpose of
implementing emergency response systems using evolving technology to
expedite the response and arrival of law enforcement in the event of a
threat or emergency at a school."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Makes the following changes to the underlying bill:
Rather than requiring districts either to develop a panic alarm
system or use a model policy for a panic alarm system, requires
districts to work with local law enforcement to develop an "emergency
response system" to expedite the response and arrival of law
enforcement in the event of a threat or emergency. Encourages
districts to use model policies developed by the School Safety Advisory
Committee (SSAC) for this purpose. Requires districts to submit a
progress report to OSPI by December 1, 2014.
Requires school districts to consider, rather than strongly
consider or give preference to, installing perimeter security control
and using building designs with certain safety features.
States that the purpose of the provisions requiring school
districts to consider installing perimeter security control on all
campuses and consider certain safety features in the design of new
construction or major remodeling of school facilities is to promote
safety. States that nothing in these provisions creates civil
liability or creates a new cause of action or new theory of negligence
against a school board, school district, or the state.
Directs the SSAC to develop model policies regarding emergency
response appropriate for a range of scenarios. Also directs the SSAC
to develop recommendations for incorporating specified school safety
features in the planning and design of new or remodeled facilities.
Requires a report by December 1, 2013, with related information and
recommendations to be posted on the web site.
Directs the OSPI to allocate grants on a competitive basis, if
funds are appropriated, for districts to implement emergency response
systems.