SECTION 1. Chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 45. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meaning:-

“Institute of higher education”, all postsecondary institutions including: (i) the system of public institutions of higher education, established in section 5; (ii) private occupational schools, as defined in section 263 of chapter 112; and (iii) private colleges, universities and other institutions of higher learning.

(b) All institutes of higher education shall require students to complete a fire safety curriculum. The  fire safety curriculum shall include instruction on fire safety and an examination to test student proficiency.

SECTION 2. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 98. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following term shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meaning:-

“School”, every public or private elementary and secondary school in the commonwealth; provided, however, that the term school shall not include colleges and universities.

(b) All schools shall require students to complete a fire safety curriculum. The fire safety curriculum shall include instruction on fire safety and an examination to test student proficiency.