PRINTER'S NO. 465
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
515
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY TEPLITZ, SCARNATI, COSTA, VULAKOVICH, TARTAGLIONE
AND YUDICHAK, FEBRUARY 19, 2015
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 19, 2015
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in preliminary provisions, further
providing for definitions; and in terms and courses of study,
further providing for fire and emergency evacuation drills.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 102 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by
adding a definition to read:
Section 102. Definitions.--When used in this act the
following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
* * *
"School security drill." An exercise, other than a fire
drill, to practice procedures that respond to an emergency
situation, including, but not limited to, a nonfire evacuation,
lockdown or active shooter situation that are similar in
duration to a fire drill.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
* * *
Section 2. Section 1517(d) of the act, amended January 14,
1970 (1969 P.L.468, No.192), is amended and the section is
amended by adding a subsection to read:
Section 1517. Fire and Emergency Evacuation Drills.--* * *
(d) All schools using or contracting for school buses for
the transportation of school children shall conduct on school
grounds two emergency evacuation drills on buses during each
school year, the first to be conducted during the first week of
the first school term and the second during the month of March,
and at such other times as the chief school administrator may
require. Each such drill shall include the practice and
instruction concerning the location, use and operation of
emergency exit doors and fire extinguishers and the proper
evacuation of buses in the event of fires or accidents.
Bus operators shall be provided with proper training and
instructions to enable them to carry out the provisions of this
subsection and may be required to attend classes and drills in
connection therewith.
On or before the tenth day of April of each year, each
district superintendent shall certify to the [Department of
Public Instruction] Department of Education that the emergency
evacuation drills herein required have been held.
(e) (1) In all public schools, school security drills shall
be periodically conducted not less than twice a year. The drills
may be in place of, or in addition to, two of the required
monthly fire drills. In the security drills, the pupils and
teachers shall be instructed in, and made thoroughly familiar
with, the steps to be taken in the event of an emergency
situation that does not involve a fire, including, but not
20150SB0515PN0465 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
limited to, a natural disaster, armed intruder or building
collapse.
(2) On or before the tenth day of April each year, each
district superintendent shall certify to the Department of
Education that the school security drills required under this
section have been held.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20150SB0515PN0465 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7