2016 -- S 2571

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LC005142

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Satchell, Lombardi, Coyne, and Archambault

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Education

     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.; provided, that when conducting drills,

emphasis shall be placed on orderly evacuation rather than on speed.

      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. 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 at any time between January 1 and May 31, and in

conjunction with the local police whenever possible. Any unplanned emergency egress,

evacuation and lockdown drill may be credited towards the requisite number of drills required by

this section. Further, the principal may defer one emergency egress drill per school year due to

severe inclement weather or other exigent circumstances; provided, that the report shall include a

detailed explanation in the written report required by subsection (f) of this section explaining the

reason why the drill could not be held throughout the entire month.

      (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

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     This act would make changes in the scheduling of required school fire drills, and require

that they be conducted with the emphasis on order rather than speed.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005142

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