By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1708) of Patricia D. Jehlen and Michael J. Barrett relative to fire safety education in schools and colleges. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
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Date
Branch
Action
1/22/2026
Senate
1/22/2026 SenateBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
5/2/2025
Joint
5/2/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 05/07/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
2/27/2025
House
2/27/2025 HouseHouse concurred
2/27/2025
Senate
2/27/2025 SenateReferred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
An Act relative to fire safety education in schools and colleges
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4 section(s) · formatted for easier reading
▸SECTION 1
Chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 47 the following section:-
▸SECTION 48
Establishment of a fire safety curriculum. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following term shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meaning:- “Institute of higher education”, all postsecondary institutions including: (i) the system of public institutions of higher education, established in section 5; (ii) private occupational schools, as defined in section 263 of chapter 112; and (iii) private colleges, universities and other institutions of higher learning.
(b) All institutes of higher education shall require students to complete a comprehensive fire safety curriculum from an expert source. The curriculum shall cover fire safety in a variety of scenarios, including, but not limited to, fire prevention and escape, what to do in case of both smoldering and flaming fires, kitchen fires, electrical fires, vehicle fires, smoke inhalation, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Students shall complete an examination to test student proficiency.
▸SECTION 2
Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 99 the following section:-
▸SECTION 100
Establishment of a fire safety curriculum. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following term shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meaning:- “School”, every public or private elementary and secondary school in the commonwealth; provided, however, that the term school shall not include colleges and universities.
(b) All schools shall require students to complete a comprehensive fire safety curriculum by the end of the 10th grade from an expert source. The curriculum shall cover fire safety in a variety of scenarios, including, but not limited to, fire prevention and escape, what to do in case of both smoldering and flaming fires, kitchen fires, electrical fires, vehicle fires, smoke inhalation, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Students shall complete an examination to test student proficiency.
Show raw text
SECTION 1. Chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 47 the following section:-
Section 48. Establishment of a fire safety curriculum. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following term shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meaning:- “Institute of higher education”, all postsecondary institutions including: (i) the system of public institutions of higher education, established in section 5; (ii) private occupational schools, as defined in section 263 of chapter 112; and (iii) private colleges, universities and other institutions of higher learning.
(b) All institutes of higher education shall require students to complete a comprehensive fire safety curriculum from an expert source. The curriculum shall cover fire safety in a variety of scenarios, including, but not limited to, fire prevention and escape, what to do in case of both smoldering and flaming fires, kitchen fires, electrical fires, vehicle fires, smoke inhalation, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Students shall complete an examination to test student proficiency.
SECTION 2. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 99 the following section:-
Section 100. Establishment of a fire safety curriculum. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following term shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meaning:- “School”, every public or private elementary and secondary school in the commonwealth; provided, however, that the term school shall not include colleges and universities.
(b) All schools shall require students to complete a comprehensive fire safety curriculum by the end of the 10th grade from an expert source. The curriculum shall cover fire safety in a variety of scenarios, including, but not limited to, fire prevention and escape, what to do in case of both smoldering and flaming fires, kitchen fires, electrical fires, vehicle fires, smoke inhalation, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Students shall complete an examination to test student proficiency.