Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07077 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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3		-	LCO 1 of 5
	3	+	LCO No. 5505 1 of 5
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5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 7077
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7077
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 5505
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	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on EDUCATION
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	(ED)
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12	19		AN ACT CONCERNING CRISIS RESPONSE DRILLS.
13	20		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
14	21		Assembly convened:
15	22
16	23		Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) Not later than April 1, 2026, 1
17	24		the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in 2
18	25		collaboration with the Connecticut Center for School Safety and Crisis 3
19	26		Prevention at Western Connecticut State University, shall (1) develop a 4
20	27		clear definition for crisis response drills for purposes of section 10-231 5
21	28		of the general statutes, as amended by this act, (2) develop standardized 6
22	29		terminology for the administration and review of crisis response drills, 7
23	30		(3) develop guidance on (A) standardized responses to crises, and (B) 8
24	31		standardized debriefing protocols following a crisis, and (4) develop an 9
25	32		evaluation template for crisis response drills that allows school districts 10
26	33		to use feedback from participants of the crisis response drill to assess the 11
27	34		efficacy of the crisis response drill and make adjustments to subsequent 12
28	35		crisis response drills to improve preparedness while preventing 13
29	36		emotional harm and supporting psychological safety. 14
30	37		(b) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in 15
31	38		collaboration with the Connecticut Center for School Safety and Crisis 16
32		-	Prevention at Western Connecticut State University, shall conduct a 17
33		-	study of the impact of crisis response drills on the school community. 18
34		-	(c) (1) Not later than April 1, 2026, the department shall submit a 19 Substitute Bill No. 7077
	39	+	Raised Bill No. 7077
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36	41
37		-	LCO 2 of 5
38	42
	43	+	LCO No. 5505 2 of 5
	44	+
	45	+	Prevention at Western Connecticut State University, shall conduct a 17
	46	+	study of the impact of crisis response drills and the school community. 18
	47	+	(c) (1) Not later than April 1, 2026, the department shall submit a 19
39	48		report on the items described in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of 20
40		-	subsection (a) of this section, ~~including~~ any recommendations, to the 21
41		-	~~joint~~ standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 22
	49	+	subsection (a) of this section, and any recommendations, to the joint 21
	50	+	standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 22
42	51		matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of 23
43	52		section 11-4a of the general statutes. 24
44	53		(2) Not later than July 1, 2028, the department shall submit a report 25
45		-	on the study conducted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, 26
46		-	~~including~~ any recommendations, to the joint standing committee of the 27
47		-	~~General~~ Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, 28
48		-	in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 29
	54	+	on the study conducted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and 26
	55	+	any recommendations, to the joint standing committee of the General 27
	56	+	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in 28
	57	+	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 29
49	58		Sec. 2. Section 10-231 of the general statutes is repealed and the 30
50	59		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 31
51	60		(a) Each local and regional board of education shall provide for a fire 32
52	61		drill to be held in the schools of such board not later than thirty days 33
53	62		after the first day of each school year and at least once each month 34
54	63		thereafter, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section. 35
55	64		(b) Each such board shall substitute a crisis response drill for a fire 36
56	65		drill once every three months and shall develop the format of such crisis 37
57	66		response drill [in consultation] in accordance with the crisis response 38
58	67		protocols described in section 3 of this act and with the appropriate local 39
59	68		law enforcement agency. A representative of such agency may 40
60	69		supervise and participate in any such crisis response drill. 41
61	70		Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) For the school year commencing 42
62	71		July 1, 2026, and each school year thereafter, each crisis response drill 43
63	72		conducted pursuant to section 10-231 of the general statutes, as 44
64		-	amended by this act, shall be conducted as follows: (1) Utilize the (A) 45
65		-	definition for crisis response drills, (B) standardized terminology for the 46
66		-	administration and review of crisis response drills, and (C) guidance on 47
67		-	standardized responses to crises and debriefing protocols following a 48
68		-	crisis, developed by the Department of Emergency Services and Public 49
69		-	Protection pursuant to section 1 of this act, (2) the school security and 50
70		-	safety committee, as described in section 10-222m of the general statutes, 51 Substitute Bill No. 7077
	73	+	amended by this act, shall be conducted in accordance with the 45
	74	+	following protocols: (1) Utilize the (A) definition for crisis response 46
	75	+	Raised Bill No. 7077
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73		-	LCO 3 of 5
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75		-	as amended by this act, shall collaborate with the school climate 52
76		-	committee, as described in section 10-222ff of the general statutes, to 53
77		-	plan crisis response drills that prioritize the physical and psychological 54
78		-	safety of students and school personnel, (3) crisis drills shall be trauma-55
79		-	informed, including utilizing an approach that takes into account prior 56
80		-	traumatic experiences and designed to prevent emotional harm to and 57
81		-	support the psychological safety of students and school personnel, with 58
82		-	mental health professionals' participation integrated throughout the 59
83		-	crisis response drill, (4) prior to conducting a crisis response drill, school 60
84		-	personnel shall provide age-appropriate education for students and 61
85		-	training for school personnel to build knowledge and skills to reduce 62
86		-	the potential for confusion or emotional distress, including a review of 63
87		-	the purpose and procedures for crisis response drills prior to the first 64
88		-	crisis response drill of the school year and notification to students, 65
89		-	school personnel and parents and guardians one week in advance of 66
90		-	conducting a crisis response drill, (5) school personnel shall 67
91		-	communicate, in a clear manner to ensure understanding, the nature 68
92		-	and purpose of crisis response drills to the parents and guardians of 69
93		-	students at the school prior to conducting a crisis response drill, (6) all 70
94		-	communication regarding crisis response drills shall be provided in the 71
95		-	native language of each student, school personnel and parents and 72
96		-	guardians, (7) at the commencement of the crisis response drill, students 73
97		-	and school personnel shall be informed that they are participating in a 74
98		-	crisis response drill to avoid confusion when an actual emergency 75
99		-	situation is occurring, (8) accommodations for students with cognitive, 76
100		-	physical or sensory disability shall be provided, to the extent 77
101		-	practicable, during a crisis response drill to ensure the safety and 78
102		-	participation of such students, (9) crisis response drills conducted with 79
103		-	students shall not include an active assailant simulation or simulated 80
104		-	violence with highly sensorial elements such as fake assailants, firearms, 81
105		-	gunfire sounds, blood or injuries, and a crisis response drill that is 82
106		-	conducted outside of the regular school day and exclusively for school 83
107		-	personnel, first responders and other school volunteers may include an 84
108		-	active assailant simulation or such simulated violence, and (10) evaluate 85
109		-	each crisis response drill using the evaluation template developed 86 Substitute Bill No. 7077
	79	+	LCO No. 5505 3 of 5
	80	+
	81	+	drills, (B) standardized terminology for the administration and review 47
	82	+	of crisis response drills, and (C) guidance on standardized responses to 48
	83	+	crises and debriefing protocols following a crisis, developed by the 49
	84	+	Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection pursuant to 50
	85	+	section 1 of this act, (2) the school security and safety committee, as 51
	86	+	described in section 10-222m of the general statutes, as amended by this 52
	87	+	act, shall collaborate with the school climate committee, as described in 53
	88	+	section 10-222ff of the general statutes, to plan crisis response drills that 54
	89	+	prioritize the physical and psychological safety of students and school 55
	90	+	personnel, (3) crisis drills shall be trauma-informed, including utilizing 56
	91	+	an approach that takes into account prior traumatic experiences and 57
	92	+	designed to prevent emotional harm to and support the psychological 58
	93	+	safety of students and school personnel, with mental health 59
	94	+	professionals' participation integrated throughout the crisis response 60
	95	+	drill, (4) prior to conducting a crisis response drill, school personnel 61
	96	+	shall provide age-appropriate education and training to allow students 62
	97	+	and school personnel to build knowledge and skills to reduce the 63
	98	+	potential for confusion or emotional distress, including a review of the 64
	99	+	purpose and procedures for crisis response drills prior to the first crisis 65
	100	+	response drill of the school year and notification to students, school 66
	101	+	personnel and parents and guardians one week in advance of 67
	102	+	conducting a crisis response drill, (5) school personnel shall 68
	103	+	communicate, in a clear manner to ensure understanding, the nature 69
	104	+	and purpose of crisis response drills to the parents and guardians of 70
	105	+	students at the school prior to conducting a crisis response drill, (6) all 71
	106	+	communication regarding crisis response drills shall be provided in the 72
	107	+	native language of all students, school personnel and parents and 73
	108	+	guardians, (7) at the commencement of the crisis response drill, students 74
	109	+	and school personnel shall be informed that they are participating in a 75
	110	+	crisis response drill for the purpose of avoiding confusion when an 76
	111	+	actual emergency situation is occurring, (8) accommodations for 77
	112	+	students with cognitive, physical or sensory disability shall be provided, 78
	113	+	to the extent practicable, during a crisis response drill to ensure the 79
	114	+	safety and participation of such students, (9) crisis response drills 80
	115	+	Raised Bill No. 7077
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112		-	LCO 4 of 5
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114		-	pursuant to section 1 of this act. 87
115		-	Sec. 4. Section 10-222m of the general statutes, as amended by section 88
116		-	63 of public act 23-167, is repealed and the following is substituted in 89
117		-	lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 90
118		-	(a) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year 91
119		-	thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall develop and 92
120		-	implement a school security and safety plan for each school under the 93
121		-	jurisdiction of such board. Such plans shall be based on the school 94
122		-	security and safety plan standards developed by the Department of 95
123		-	Emergency Services and Public Protection, pursuant to section 10-222n. 96
124		-	Each local and regional board of education shall annually review and 97
125		-	update, if necessary, such plans. 98
126		-	(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year 99
127		-	thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall establish a 100
128		-	school security and safety committee at each school under the 101
129		-	jurisdiction of such board. The school security and safety committee 102
130		-	shall be responsible for assisting in the development of the school 103
131		-	security and safety plan for the school and administering such plan. 104
132		-	Such school security and safety committee shall consist of a local police 105
133		-	officer, a local first responder, a teacher and an administrator employed 106
134		-	at the school, a mental health professional, as defined in section 10-76t, 107
135		-	a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school and any other 108
136		-	person the board of education deems necessary. Any parent or guardian 109
137		-	serving as a member of a school security and safety committee shall not 110
138		-	have access to information reported to such committee that would result 111
139		-	in a violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 112
140		-	20 USC 1232g, as amended from time to time. 113
141		-	(c) Each local and regional board of education shall (1) annually 114
142		-	submit the school security and safety plan for each school under the 115
143		-	jurisdiction of such board, developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this 116
144		-	section, to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, 117
145		-	and (2) make any portion of such school security and safety plan that is 118 Substitute Bill No. 7077
	119	+	LCO No. 5505 4 of 5
	120	+
	121	+	conducted with students shall not include an active assailant simulation, 81
	122	+	except a crisis response drill that is conducted outside of the regular 82
	123	+	school day and exclusively for school personnel, first responders and 83
	124	+	other school volunteers may include an active assailant simulation, and 84
	125	+	(10) evaluate each crisis response drill using the evaluation template 85
	126	+	developed pursuant to section 1 of this act. 86
	127	+	Sec. 4. Section 10-222m of the general statutes, as amended by section 87
	128	+	63 of public act 23-167, is repealed and the following is substituted in 88
	129	+	lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 89
	130	+	(a) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year 90
	131	+	thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall develop and 91
	132	+	implement a school security and safety plan for each school under the 92
	133	+	jurisdiction of such board. Such plans shall be based on the school 93
	134	+	security and safety plan standards developed by the Department of 94
	135	+	Emergency Services and Public Protection, pursuant to section 10-222n. 95
	136	+	Each local and regional board of education shall annually review and 96
	137	+	update, if necessary, such plans. 97
	138	+	(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year 98
	139	+	thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall establish a 99
	140	+	school security and safety committee at each school under the 100
	141	+	jurisdiction of such board. The school security and safety committee 101
	142	+	shall be responsible for assisting in the development of the school 102
	143	+	security and safety plan for the school and administering such plan. 103
	144	+	Such school security and safety committee shall consist of a local police 104
	145	+	officer, a local first responder, a teacher and an administrator employed 105
	146	+	at the school, a mental health professional, as defined in section 10-76t, 106
	147	+	a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school and any other 107
	148	+	person the board of education deems necessary. Any parent or guardian 108
	149	+	serving as a member of a school security and safety committee shall not 109
	150	+	have access to information reported to such committee that would result 110
	151	+	in a violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 111
	152	+	20 USC 1232g, as amended from time to time. 112
	153	+	Raised Bill No. 7077
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148		-	LCO 5 of 5
149	156
150		-	not prohibited from disclosure pursuant to section 1-210 available to 119
151		-	members of the school community upon request. 120
	157	+	LCO No. 5505 5 of 5
	158	+
	159	+	(c) Each local and regional board of education shall (1) annually 113
	160	+	submit the school security and safety plan for each school under the 114
	161	+	jurisdiction of such board, developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this 115
	162	+	section, to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, 116
	163	+	and (2) make any portion of such school security and safety plan that is 117
	164	+	not prohibited from disclosure pursuant to section 1-210 available to 118
	165	+	members of the school community upon request. 119
152	166		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
153	167		sections:
154	168
155	169		Section 1 July 1, 2025 New section
156	170		Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 10-231
157	171		Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 New section
158	172		Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 10-222m
159	173
160		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
161		-	In Section 3, "in accordance with the following protocols" was changed
162		-	to "as follows", for proper form; "age-appropriate education and
163		-	training to allow students and school personnel" was changed to "age-
164		-	appropriate education for students and training for school personnel",
165		-	for clarity; and "for the purpose of avoiding" was changed to "to avoid"
166		-	and "except" was changed to "and", for proper form.
	174	+	Statement of Purpose:
	175	+	To implement the recommendations of the School Crisis Response Drills
	176	+	Working Group regarding the development of protocols for conducting
	177	+	crisis response drills in schools.
167	178
168		-	ED Joint Favorable Subst.
169		-
	179	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	180	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	181	+	underlined.]
170	182