2015 -- H 5410

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LC001402

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS - FIRE DRILLS

     Introduced By: Representatives MacBeth, McLaughlin, and Messier

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2015

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-21-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21 entitled "Health and

Safety of Pupils" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

shortest possible time and without confusion or panic.

     Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, in all schools or buildings used for

educational purposes through the twelfth grade by six (6) or more persons for four (4) or more

hours per day or more than twelve (12) hours per week, there shall be not less than one

emergency egress drill conducted every month the facility is in session with all occupants of the

building participating in said drill, provided that a building principal or the person in charge of

any public or private school or educational institution may delay or postpone such a drill during

the months of December, January, and February, if said principal or person determines that such

drills should be postponed due to severe inclement weather. In the event such drills are

postponed, the drills shall be scheduled and performed later in the school year so that the total

number of drills required by this section is met prior to the end of the school year. One additional

emergency egress drill shall be conducted in buildings that are not open on a year- round basis

within the first (1st) thirty (30) days of operation. At least one out of every four (4) emergency

egress drills or rapid dismissals shall be obstructed by means of which at least one or more exits

and stairways in the school building are blocked off or not used. In addition, there shall be two (2)

evacuation drills and two (2) lockdown drills. Evacuation drills shall be designed and conducted

for use when conditions outside the school building are safer than conditions inside the building.

Lockdown drills shall be designed and conducted for use to protect school building occupants

from potential dangers in the building, and one shall be held in September and one in January,

and in conjunction with the local police whenever possible. A principal or other person in charge

of a public or private school or educational institution shall consider the safety of pupils and the

risk of exposing students to severe inclement weather in scheduling any drills required by this

subsection.

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

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

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

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

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

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

week of the summer session.

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

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

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

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

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

accommodations for twenty (20) or more students.

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

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

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

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

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

     (f) Written reports, on forms supplied by the department of elementary and secondary

education, of each fire drill shall be completed immediately upon termination of every drill and

shall be available for review by the fire marshal, assistant deputy fire marshal, or local fire

authority. The fire marshal, assistant deputy fire marshal, or local fire authority may require that a

fire drill be conducted in his or her presence.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS - FIRE DRILLS

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     This act would permit school building principals to delay holding fire and emergency

egress evacuation drills in the months of December, January, and February.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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