HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 843        FILED ON: 1/13/2025

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Priscila S. Sousa

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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 establishing mandatory school emergency response drills in the Commonwealth.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 843        FILED ON: 1/13/2025

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 establishing mandatory school emergency response drills in the Commonwealth.

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

Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 38R the following section:-

Section 38S. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:-

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

(b) The principal, headmaster or other administrator of each school, in consultation with the local police department, shall establish critical incident response protocols for the school, including but not limited to protocols for active shooters and other critical incidents during: (i) lunch, assembly and class switching periods, and (ii) fire alarm activations.

(c) Each school shall conduct at least 2 emergency response drills and 1 safety lesson for students and staff each school year held at the school during the regular school day.

(d) The safety lesson held pursuant to subsection (c) shall be held within the first month of the school year and shall educate students and staff on the school’s safety protocols established pursuant to subsection (b).

(e) One emergency response drill performed pursuant to subsection (c) shall be performed within the first month of the school year.

(f) If a school hosts summer school, the school shall conduct at least 1 emergency response drill and 1 safety lesson during the summer school session; provided, that this is in addition to the emergency response drill and safety lessons required during the regular school year pursuant to this section.