PRINTER'S NO. 1979
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1561
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY ROEBUCK, HILL-EVANS, KINSEY, READSHAW, NEILSON,
YOUNGBLOOD, DEASY AND DeLUCA, JUNE 4, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 4, 2019
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 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 1517(a) and (e) of the act of March 10,
1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
are amended and the section is amended by adding subsections to
read:
Section 1517. Fire, School Security and Emergency Evacuation
Drills.--(a) Except as provided under subsection (a.1), in all
school buildings of school entities where fire-escapes,
appliances for the extinguishment of fires, or proper and
sufficient exits in case of fire or panic, either or all, are
required by law to be maintained, fire drills shall be
periodically conducted, not less than one a month[, by the
teacher or teachers in charge] while the school entity is in
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session and students are present, under [rules and regulations
to be promulgated] policies adopted by the chief school
administrator under whose supervision such school entities are.
In such fire drills the pupils and teachers shall be instructed
in, and made thoroughly familiar with, the use of the fire-
escapes, appliances and exits. The drill shall include the
actual use thereof, and the complete removal of the pupils and
teachers, in an expeditious and orderly manner, by means of
fire-escapes and exits, from the building to a place of safety
on the ground outside.
* * *
(a.2) A record of all fire, school security and emergency
evacuation drills shall be completed by the principal or person
in charge at each school building and shall be accurate and up-
to-date and kept on file in the respective school offices. The
principal or person in charge shall submit the record to the
chief school administrator and the Department of Education by
June 30 each year for review by the department for compliance
with this section. The Department of Education shall determine
the manner and form of the record to be used to document the
fire, school security and emergency evacuation drills by the
principal or person in charge at each school building. The
record must include, at a minimum, the following:
(1) The date and time of the drill.
(2) The duration of the drill.
(3) The drill type.
(4) The signature of the principal or person in charge.
* * *
(e) On or before the tenth day of April of each year, each
chief school administrator shall certify to the Department of
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Education that the fire and emergency evacuation drills and
school security drills herein required have been conducted in
accordance with this section[.] and documented in the record by
the principal or person in charge of each school building.
(e.1) The Department of Education, by September 1, 2020, and
each August 1 thereafter, shall provide annually a report on
Statewide compliance with the provisions of this section to the
Education Committee of the Senate, the Education Committee of
the House of Representatives and the State Fire Commissioner and
shall make the report available on the department's publicly
accessible Internet website.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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