HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5402        FILED ON: 12/5/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Richard M. Haggerty

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to a student safety education course in schools.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5402        FILED ON: 12/5/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to a student safety education course in schools.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. The fifteenth paragraph of section 1I of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out clauses (l) and (m) and inserting in place thereof the following 3 clauses:-

(l) nutrition and wellness programs;

(m) genocide education programs; and

(n) student safety education course.

SECTION 2. Said section 1I of said chapter 69, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the fifteenth paragraph the following paragraph:-

Annually, not later than December 31, the commissioner, in consultation with school districts, shall provide a report on the progress of the student safety education course in private, public, vocational and charter schools in the commonwealth, kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, to the chairs of the joint committee on education and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate. The report shall provide a description of the manner in which the student safety education course is being offered including, but not limited to: (i) the number of hours of instruction offered; (ii) the grade levels at which such instruction is offered; and (iii) the title and description of the course in which such instruction is integrated.

SECTION 3. Said chapter 69 is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-

Section 40. (a) Every private school and school district shall, for the purpose of educating kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, provide instruction on student safety education consistent with the content standards framework adopted by the board of elementary and secondary education; provided, however, that a private school and school district may partner with trained local city and town public safety professionals including, but not limited to, a: (i) police officer; (ii) firefighter; (iii) emergency medical technician; (iv) paramedic or (v) other first responder to implement a student safety education course for the purpose of educating kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, students on preparedness for common dangers and emergencies.

(b) The student safety education course shall be taught in the month of September of each school year.

(c) The student safety education course shall include at least a 1-hour safety demonstration video, presented by, but not limited to, a local police officer, firefighter, and an emergency medical technician or paramedic. The video shall cover, but not be limited to, the subjects of: (i) pedestrian safety; (ii) cycling safety; (iii) how to report emergencies; (iv) preventing child abductions by strangers; (v) saying no to drugs; (vi) how to handle bullying; (vii) what to do if a student comes across a firearm; (viii) fire prevention and simple extinguishing methods; (ix) how to handle a family medical emergency in a student’s presence; (x) how to help another student or themselves when choking; and (xi) any emergency first aid procedures.

(c)  The department shall assist schools in providing: (i) instruction on student safety by facilitating access to high-quality course materials; and (ii) professional development training, including the provision of trainings, seminars, conferences and materials, for educators and public safety professionals to use in the teaching of student safety.

(d)  The department may provide trainings, seminars, conferences and materials for educators and public safety professionals to use in the teaching public safety to students in person or through the use of synchronous or asynchronous audio, video, electronic media or other telecommunications technology.

(e) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the student safety education course established in this section.