An Act establishing mandatory school emergency response drills in the Commonwealth
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 7/10/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 07/21/2025 from 11:00 AM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Education |
No additional cosponsors.
Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 38R the following section:-
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:- “School”, every public or private elementary and secondary school in the commonwealth; provided, however, that this shall not include colleges and universities. (b) The principal, headmaster or other administrator of each school, in consultation with the local police department, shall establish critical incident response protocols for the school, including but not limited to protocols for active shooters and other critical incidents during: (i) lunch, assembly and class switching periods, and (ii) fire alarm activations. (c) Each school shall conduct at least 2 emergency response drills and 1 safety lesson for students and staff each school year held at the school during the regular school day. (d) The safety lesson held pursuant to subsection (c) shall be held within the first month of the school year and shall educate students and staff on the school’s safety protocols established pursuant to subsection (b). (e) One emergency response drill performed pursuant to subsection (c) shall be performed within the first month of the school year. (f) If a school hosts summer school, the school shall conduct at least 1 emergency response drill and 1 safety lesson during the summer school session; provided, that this is in addition to the emergency response drill and safety lessons required during the regular school year pursuant to this section.
Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 38R the following section:- Section 38S. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:- “School”, every public or private elementary and secondary school in the commonwealth; provided, however, that this shall not include colleges and universities. (b) The principal, headmaster or other administrator of each school, in consultation with the local police department, shall establish critical incident response protocols for the school, including but not limited to protocols for active shooters and other critical incidents during: (i) lunch, assembly and class switching periods, and (ii) fire alarm activations. (c) Each school shall conduct at least 2 emergency response drills and 1 safety lesson for students and staff each school year held at the school during the regular school day. (d) The safety lesson held pursuant to subsection (c) shall be held within the first month of the school year and shall educate students and staff on the school’s safety protocols established pursuant to subsection (b). (e) One emergency response drill performed pursuant to subsection (c) shall be performed within the first month of the school year. (f) If a school hosts summer school, the school shall conduct at least 1 emergency response drill and 1 safety lesson during the summer school session; provided, that this is in addition to the emergency response drill and safety lessons required during the regular school year pursuant to this section.