2013 -- H 5420

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LC00917

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

     Introduced By: Representatives Nunes, Tomasso, Shekarchi, and Marcello

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2013

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 16-21-4 and 16-21-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21

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entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-21-4. Fire, evacuation and lockdown drills required -- Failure to comply. -- (a) It

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shall be the duty of the principal or other person in charge of every public school or private

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school, college, university, or postsecondary institutions or educational institution within the

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state, having more than twenty-five (25) pupils, to instruct and train the pupils by means of drills,

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so that they may in a sudden emergency be able to leave school buildings and dormitories in the

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shortest possible time and without confusion or panic. In all schools but colleges, universities, or

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postsecondary institutions, there shall be fifteen (15) drills or rapid dismissals during the school

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year, at least eight (8) of which shall be held during the months of September, October, and

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November August through December. The remaining seven (7) drills or rapid dismissals shall be

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held at the discretion of the principal or person in charge of the school during the months of

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January through June. At least four (4) drills or rapid dismissals shall be obstructed by means of

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which at least one or more exits and stairways in the school building are blocked off or not used

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and at least two (2) of the obstructed drills shall be held during the months of September and

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October. There shall be two (2) evacuation drills and two (2) four (4) lockdown drills included

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among the fifteen (15) mandatory drills in each school year. Evacuation drills shall be designed

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and conducted for use when conditions outside the school building are safer than conditions

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inside the building. Lockdown drills shall be designed and conducted for use to protect school

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building occupants from potential dangers in the building.

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      (b) (1) In colleges, universities, postsecondary institutions, and residence facilities in

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public schools or private schools there shall be at least four (4) drills or rapid dismissals during

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the academic year for each school building or residence facility, at least two (2) of which shall be

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held between the months of September through December. The remaining two (2) drills shall be

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held between the months of January through June. Any college, university, or postsecondary

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institution that holds a summer session shall hold a drill or rapid dismissal during the first full

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week of the summer session.

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      (2) At least one drill or rapid dismissal shall be obstructed so that at least one or more

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exits or stairways in the school building or dormitory are blocked off or not used.

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      (c) For purposes of this section "residence facility" means dormitory, fraternity, sorority,

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or any other type of residence hall, whether on campus or off campus, owned or leased by a

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college, university, postsecondary institutions, public schools, or private school with

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accommodations for twenty (20) or more students.

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      (d) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, fire drills shall be required in

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colleges or universities only for buildings which are used for a residence facility.

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      (e) Neglect by any principal or any person in charge of any public or private school or

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educational institution to comply with the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor

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punishable by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).

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     16-21-5. Uniform fire code or drill tactics -- Reports. -- (a) It shall be the duty of the

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department of elementary and secondary education or the office of higher education, as

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appropriate, to formulate a uniform fire code or drill tactics to be used in all schools in

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accordance with section 16-21-4 and to furnish a sufficient number of copies for use in all schools

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together with forms for reporting to the fire department of the city or town in which the schools

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are located and to the department or office. These forms shall be furnished by the department or

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office to all schools and shall be substantially as follows:

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     State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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     Name of school ............

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     Principal or person in charge ............

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     day of time alarm a.m.

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     Date drill is held . . . . . . . . . . . . week . . . . . . . . . . . . sounded . . . . . . . . . . . .

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     p.m.

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     Time taken to empty building . . . . . . . . . . minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . seconds

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     Total time elapsed before school

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     work is resumed . . . . . . . . . . . . minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . seconds

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     check

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     type of drill . . . . . . . . . one . . . . . . . . . . obstructed . . . . . . . . . unobstructed ............

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     Signal used ............

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     Number of fire alarm button or station used ............

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     Name of person sounding alarm ............

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     Name of first responder notified of a drill………

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     Weather conditions ............

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     Temperature ............

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     Remarks ............

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     (b) In the case of colleges, universities, and postsecondary institutions, these reports shall

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remain on the premises available for review by fire officials.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00917

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

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     This act would require seven (7) fire drills during the months of January through June

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and that four (4) lockdown drills be held in each school year.

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     This act would also require that the name of the first responder notified of a drill be

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included in a form prescribed by statute.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC00917

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