2019 -- H 5783

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LC001993

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - HEALTH AND EDUCATION OF PUPILS

     Introduced By: Representative Stephen R. Ucci

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2019

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-21-37. Real time threat notification.

     (a) The department of public safety, in consultation with the department of education and

the school safety board, shall deploy a statewide, real-time threat notification system for schools,

the purpose of which shall be to link school personnel directly to law enforcement in the event of

a direct threat against the school community.

     (b) The department of public safety shall solicit bids and select a vendor to implement the

threat notification system based on the following criteria:

     (1) The system can be activated by authorized school staff personnel using classroom

desktop computers, laptop computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices as appropriate;

     (2) Upon activation, the system determines the location of the nearest law enforcement

officers, regardless of jurisdiction, and directly notifies them of the activation;

     (3) The system also notifies the following state and local agencies of the activation:

     (i) The department of public safety 911 center;

     (ii) Rhode Island state police; and

     (iii) The appropriate local or regional dispatch center for the school.

     (4) The system provides electronic school floor plans and related documents to

responding officers.

     (5) The system provides a communication method for responding officers to

communicate with school personnel.

     (c) The threat notification system for schools shall be a state-funded program, available to

all school districts and law enforcement agencies in the state. However, participation in the

program by local school districts and local law enforcement agencies shall be voluntary.

     (d) The superintendent of the Rhode Island state police shall adopt rules relative to

implementation and operation of the real-time threat notification system for schools.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect sixty (60) days after passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - HEALTH AND EDUCATION OF PUPILS

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     This act would provide for a statewide real time threat notification system for schools

administered by the department of public safety.

     This act would take effect sixty (60) days after passage.

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LC001993

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