READ FIRST TIME 02/08/13.   

     AN ACT Relating to safe school buildings; amending RCW 28A.335.010; adding a new section to chapter 28A.320 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

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.