2018 -- S 2639

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LC005162

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, McCaffrey, and Felag

     Date Introduced: March 15, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Education

     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 section 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. Each

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school district of each town, city, and regional school department shall submit the all hazards site

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safety survey report to the Rhode Island school safety committee every three (3) years for the

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committee's review and recommendations. The assessment shall be completed by November 1 of

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the year mandated, and by December 31 of that year, the commissioner of elementary and

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secondary education shall report to the speaker of the house, the senate president, and the

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governor that such assessments have been completed. Assessments performed within a year of the

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date of passage of this act shall satisfy this requirement. All meetings regarding the school safety

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assessment are not subject to the open meetings law pursuant to chapter 46 of title 42, and

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documents produced including, but not limited to, meeting minutes and the school safety

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assessment are not subject to the access to 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 ยง 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 that school district safety assessments be provided to the Rhode

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Island school safety committee every three (3) years for review and recommendations.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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