PRINTER'S NO. 556
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
582
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY KINSEY, KINKEAD, MADDEN, HOHENSTEIN, SANCHEZ,
HILL-EVANS, PARKER, GIRAL, D. WILLIAMS AND CONKLIN,
MARCH 20, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 20, 2023
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 heading, (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
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teacher or teachers in charge] while the school entity is in
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 drills, school security drills
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 office. 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
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chief school administrator shall certify to the Department of
Education that the fire drill, 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, 2024, 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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