2017 -- H 5016

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LC000194

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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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

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-21-23 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21 entitled "Health

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

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     16-21-23. School safety teams, school crisis response teams, and school safety

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assessments.

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     (a) Each school district of each town, city, and regional school department shall conduct a

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school safety assessment in conjunction with local police, fire, school safety team pursuant to the

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provisions of this § 16-21-23 and any other expert said school department deems necessary. The

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assessment shall examine the current status of each school building's safety and shall be

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performed within thirty (30) days of passage of this act, and every three (3) years thereafter. The

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assessment shall be completed by November 1 of the year mandated, and by December 31 of that

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year, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall report to the speaker of the

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house, the senate president and the governor that such assessments have been completed.

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Assessments performed within a year of the date of passage of this act shall satisfy this

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requirement. All meetings regarding the school safety assessment are not subject to the open

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meetings law pursuant to chapter 46 of title 42, and documents produced including, but not

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limited to, meeting minutes and the school safety assessment are not subject to the access to

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public records law pursuant to chapter 2 of title 38.

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     (b) The school committee of each town, city, and regional school department shall review

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and adopt in executive session a comprehensive school safety plan regarding crisis intervention,

 

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emergency response, and management. The plan shall be developed by a school safety team

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comprised of representatives of the school committee, representatives of student, teacher, and

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parent organizations, school safety personnel, school administration, and members of local law

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enforcement, fire, and emergency personnel. Members of the school safety team shall be

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appointed by the school committee and/or school superintendent of the town, city, or regional

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school district. In creating the school safety plan, the school safety team(s) shall consult the

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model school safety plan developed by the department of elementary and secondary education

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pursuant to § 16-21-23.1.

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     (c) The school crisis response team shall be comprised of those selected school personnel

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willing to serve as members of a psychological response team to address the psychological and

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emotional needs of the school community, and may seek mental health resources from the

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department of elementary and secondary education. Members of the school crisis response team

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may coordinate mental health services for those students and school employees affected by acts

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of violence in the schools, using resources available through the department of elementary and

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secondary education.

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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 require the assessment to examine the status of each school building's

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safety be completed by November 1 of the year mandated. By December 31 of that year, a report

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shall be made that such assessments have been completed.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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