Home » Senate passes bill requiring schools to maintain emergency plans

Senate passes bill requiring schools to maintain emergency plans

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 13, 2013) — Kentucky school districts would be required to maintain emergency plans under a bill unanimously passed Tuesday by the Senate.

The Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would require severe weather, fire, lockdown and other safety drills to be completed in the first 30 days of the school year and again in January.
The Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would require schools to create emergency plans and conduct severe weather, fire, lockdown and other safety drills in the first 30 days of the school year and again in January.

Based on recommendations from the Kentucky Center on School Safety, Senate Bill 8, sponsored by Sen. Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, would require school administrators to meet with local first responders to create multi-faceted emergency management response plans and update the plans annually. School staff would be briefed on the plans annually as well.

“School safety and security involves so much more than just locking the school down.  It involves preparation,” Wilson said.

The bill would require severe weather, fire, lockdown and other safety drills to be completed in the first 30 days of the school year and again in January. It includes recommendations for securing school buildings.

Under the measure, emergency plans would not be made public and would not be subject to open records laws.

The bill now goes to the House for consideration.