| Chapter 032 |
| 2017 -- H 5016 Enacted 06/19/2017 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS |
| Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Azzinaro, Canario, Lancia, and Solomon |
| Date Introduced: January 05, 2017 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 16-21-23 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21 entitled "Health |
| and Safety of Pupils" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 16-21-23. School safety teams, school crisis response teams, and school safety |
| assessments. |
| (a) Each school district of each town, city, and regional school department shall conduct a |
| school safety assessment in conjunction with local police, fire, school safety team pursuant to the |
| provisions of this § 16-21-23 section and any other expert said school department deems |
| necessary. The assessment shall examine the current status of each school building's safety and |
| shall be performed within thirty (30) days of passage of this act, and every three (3) years |
| thereafter. The assessment shall be completed by November 1 of the year mandated, and by |
| December 31 of that year, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall report |
| to the speaker of the house, the senate president, and the governor that such assessments have |
| been completed. Assessments performed within a year of the date of passage of this act shall |
| satisfy this requirement. All meetings regarding the school safety assessment are not subject to |
| the open meetings law pursuant to chapter 46 of title 42, and documents produced including, but |
| not limited to, meeting minutes and the school safety assessment are not subject to the access to |
| public records law pursuant to chapter 2 of title 38. |
| (b) The school committee of each town, city, and regional school department shall review |
| and adopt in executive session a comprehensive school safety plan regarding crisis intervention, |
| emergency response, and management. The plan shall be developed by a school safety team |
| comprised of representatives of the school committee, representatives of student, teacher, and |
| parent organizations, school safety personnel, school administration, and members of local law |
| enforcement, fire, and emergency personnel. Members of the school safety team shall be |
| appointed by the school committee and/or school superintendent of the town, city, or regional |
| school district. In creating the school safety plan, the school safety team(s) shall consult the |
| model school safety plan developed by the department of elementary and secondary education |
| pursuant to § 16-21-23.1. |
| (c) The school crisis response team shall be comprised of those selected school personnel |
| willing to serve as members of a psychological response team to address the psychological and |
| emotional needs of the school community, and may seek mental health resources from the |
| department of elementary and secondary education. Members of the school crisis response team |
| may coordinate mental health services for those students and school employees affected by acts |
| of violence in the schools, using resources available through the department of elementary and |
| secondary education. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
| ======== |
| LC000194 |
| ======== |