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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 17, 2013 01:29 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Joseph T. Hackett and Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | School Lockdown Security Drills |
| In response to the recent report by the Select Committee on School Safety, we plan to introduce legislation to require all schools in Pennsylvania to conduct school security drills on a regular basis. Pennsylvania law requires schools to have emergency management plans in place and conduct monthly fire drills, but there is no requirement that these emergency plans be rehearsed or that faculty, staff and students know what to do in the event of a security issue. In times of turmoil, the only way that you can be sure proper procedures are followed is to practice them regularly. Several cities and states nationwide have mandated school security drills, including New Jersey in 2010. According to the US Fire Administration, there is an average of less than five fatalities per year in school fires, but there have been far more caused by violent incidents in schools. Our legislation will direct all brick-and-mortar schools, both public and private, to work with their county emergency management agency (EMA) and local law enforcement agency to develop building lockdown security procedures and will require drills to be conducted on a regular basis. A review of each drill will be completed by both the school’s principal and the head of the local police department or county EMA coordinator and provided to the Department of Education. Ensuring the safety and security of our schools is years overdue and every day that goes by without guaranteeing that our faculty, staff and students know what to do in a time of peril puts lives at risk. We believe that requiring schools to regularly rehearse and evaluate their security procedures is a small investment considering the priceless asset that is at stake. Thank you for your consideration and we hope you will join us in co-sponsoring this legislation. |