SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1903        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Patricia D. Jehlen

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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 fire safety education in schools and colleges.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1903        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2313 OF 2023-2024.]

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 fire safety education in schools and colleges.

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. Chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 47 the following section:-

Section 48. Establishment of a fire safety curriculum. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following term 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 comprehensive fire safety curriculum from an expert source. The curriculum shall cover fire safety in a variety of scenarios, including, but not limited to, fire prevention and escape, what to do in case of both smoldering and flaming fires, kitchen fires, electrical fires, vehicle fires, smoke inhalation, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Students shall complete an examination to test student proficiency.

SECTION 2. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 99 the following section:-

Section 100. Establishment of a fire safety curriculum. (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 comprehensive fire safety curriculum by the end of the 10th grade from an expert source. The curriculum shall cover fire safety in a variety of scenarios, including, but not limited to, fire prevention and escape, what to do in case of both smoldering and flaming fires, kitchen fires, electrical fires, vehicle fires, smoke inhalation, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Students shall complete an examination to test student proficiency.