2017 -- S 0022

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LC000713

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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: Senators Gallo, Lynch Prata, DaPonte, Goodwin, and Satchell

     Date Introduced: January 18, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Education

     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 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.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

***

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

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

shall be made that such assessments have been completed.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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