Section 1A of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

The commissioner shall, in consultation with the commissioner of public safety, establish regional school safety councils to assist local districts in developing school safety plans. The school safety plans shall provide for actions that promote safe schools in the following areas; 1) school design, 2) violence prevention, 3) man-made and natural hazards, 4) effective prevention and mitigation of such hazards and 5) response to emergencies within school districts. Such councils shall include representatives from public safety, education, mental health and emergency management and shall be available to local districts before, during and after emergencies and provide technical assistance appropriate for the emergency. Cost containment shall be considered by the school safety councils when developing the school safety plans and whenever possible the councils shall use existing protocols, personnel, and structures.