Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois Senate Bill SB0071 Latest Draft

Bill / Engrossed Version Filed 04/09/2025

                            SB0071 EngrossedLRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b   SB0071 Engrossed  LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
  SB0071 Engrossed  LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
1  AN ACT concerning safety.
2  Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3  represented in the General Assembly:
4  Section 5. The School Safety Drill Act is amended by
5  changing Sections 5, 10, 15, and 25 and by adding Section 65 as
6  follows:
7  (105 ILCS 128/5)
8  Sec. 5. Definitions.  In this Act:
9  "Emergency services and disaster agency" means an agency
10  by the name "emergency services and disaster agency", by the
11  name "emergency management agency", or by any other name that
12  is established by ordinance within a political subdivision to
13  coordinate the emergency management program within that
14  political subdivision with private organizations, other
15  political subdivisions, and the State and federal governments.
16  "First responder" means and includes all fire departments
17  and districts, law enforcement agencies and officials,
18  emergency medical responders, emergency medical dispatchers,
19  and emergency management officials involved in the execution
20  and documentation of the drills administered under this Act.
21  "Hazardous substance" has the meaning given to that term
22  in Section 3.215 of the Environmental Protection Act, except
23  that, as used in this Act, "hazardous substance" also includes

 

  SB0071 Engrossed  LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b


SB0071 Engrossed- 2 -LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b   SB0071 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
  SB0071 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
1  radioactive materials, hydrocarbons, petroleum, gasoline, and
2  crude oil or any products, by-products, or fractions thereof.
3  "Local emergency planning committee" means the committee
4  that is appointed for an emergency planning district under
5  Section 301 of the federal Emergency Planning and Community
6  Right-to-Know Act of 1986.
7  "School" means a public or private facility that offers
8  elementary or secondary education to students under the age of
9  21. As used in this definition, "public facility" means a
10  facility operated by the State or by a unit of local
11  government. As used in this definition, "private facility"
12  means any non-profit, non-home-based, non-public elementary or
13  secondary school that is in compliance with Title VI of the
14  Civil Rights Act of 1964 and attendance at which satisfies the
15  requirements of Section 26-1 of the School Code. While more
16  than one school may be housed in a facility, for purposes of
17  this Act, the facility shall be considered a school. When a
18  school has more than one location, for purposes of this Act,
19  each different location shall be considered its own school.
20  "School district" means any public school district
21  established under the School Code, any program of a special
22  education joint agreement established under Section 3-15.14,
23  10-22.31, or 10-22.31a of the School Code, or any charter
24  school authorized by the State Board of Education in
25  accordance with Section 27A-7.5 of the School Code.
26  "School safety drill" means a pre-planned exercise

 

 

  SB0071 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b


SB0071 Engrossed- 3 -LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b   SB0071 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
  SB0071 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
1  conducted by a school in accordance with the drills and
2  requirements set forth in this Act.
3  (Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 102-1006, eff. 1-1-23;
4  103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)
5  (105 ILCS 128/10)
6  Sec. 10. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is (i) to
7  establish minimum requirements and standards for schools to
8  follow when conducting school safety drills and reviewing
9  school emergency and crisis response plans and, beginning July
10  1, 2027, hazardous substance release procedures and (ii) to
11  encourage schools and first responders to work together for
12  the safety of children. Communities and schools may exceed
13  these requirements and standards.
14  (Source: P.A. 94-600, eff. 8-16-05.)
15  (105 ILCS 128/15)
16  Sec. 15. Types of drills. Under this Act, the following
17  school safety drills shall be instituted by all schools in
18  this State:
19  (1) School evacuation drills, which shall address and
20  prepare students and school personnel for situations that
21  occur when conditions outside of a school building are
22  safer than inside a school building. Evacuation incidents
23  are based on the needs of particular communities and may
24  include without limitation the following:

 

 

  SB0071 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b


SB0071 Engrossed- 4 -LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b   SB0071 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
  SB0071 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
1  (A) fire;
2  (B) suspicious items or persons;
3  (C) incidents involving hazardous materials,
4  including, but not limited to, chemical, incendiary,
5  and explosives; and
6  (D) bomb threats; and .
7  (E) incidents involving the release or explosion
8  of hazardous substances.
9  (2) Except as limited by subsection (b-5) of Section
10  20 of this Act, bus evacuation drills, which shall address
11  and prepare students and school personnel for situations
12  that occur when conditions outside of a bus are safer than
13  inside the bus. Evacuation incidents are based on the
14  needs of particular communities and may include without
15  limitation the following:
16  (A) fire;
17  (B) suspicious items; and
18  (C) incidents involving hazardous materials,
19  including, but not limited to, chemical, incendiary,
20  and explosives; and .
21  (D) incidents involving the release or explosion
22  of hazardous substances.
23  (3) Law enforcement drills, which shall address and
24  prepare school personnel for situations calling for the
25  involvement of law enforcement when conditions inside a
26  school building are safer than outside of a school

 

 

  SB0071 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b


SB0071 Engrossed- 5 -LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b   SB0071 Engrossed - 5 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
  SB0071 Engrossed - 5 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
1  building and it is necessary to protect building occupants
2  from potential dangers in a school building. Law
3  enforcement drills may involve situations that call for
4  the reverse-evacuation or the lock-down of a school
5  building. Evacuation or reverse-evacuation incidents shall
6  include a shooting incident.
7  (4) Severe weather and shelter-in-place drills, which
8  shall address and prepare students for situations
9  involving severe weather emergencies or the release of
10  external gas or chemicals. Severe weather and
11  shelter-in-place incidents shall be based on the needs and
12  environment of particular communities and may include
13  without limitation the following:
14  (A) severe weather, including, but not limited to,
15  shear winds, lightning, and earthquakes;
16  (B) incidents involving hazardous materials,
17  including, but not limited to, chemical, incendiary,
18  and explosives; and
19  (C) incidents involving weapons of mass
20  destruction, including, but not limited to,
21  biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons; and .
22  (D) incidents involving the release or explosion
23  of hazardous materials.
24  (Source: P.A. 100-443, eff. 8-25-17.)
25  (105 ILCS 128/25)

 

 

  SB0071 Engrossed - 5 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b


SB0071 Engrossed- 6 -LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b   SB0071 Engrossed - 6 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
  SB0071 Engrossed - 6 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
1  Sec. 25. Annual review.
2  (a) Each public school district, through its school board
3  or the board's designee, shall conduct a minimum of one annual
4  meeting at which it will review each school building's
5  emergency and crisis response plans, protocols, and
6  procedures, including procedures regarding the school
7  district's threat assessment team, the school district's
8  hazardous substance release procedures, procedures regarding
9  the school district's cardiac emergency response plan, the
10  efficacy and effects of law enforcement drills, and each
11  building's compliance with the school safety drill programs.
12  The purpose of this annual review shall be to review and update
13  the emergency and crisis response plans, protocols, and
14  procedures and the school safety drill programs of the
15  district and each of its school buildings. This review must be
16  at no cost to the school district. In updating a school
17  building's emergency and crisis response plans, consideration
18  may be given to making the emergency and crisis response plans
19  available to first responders, administrators, and teachers
20  for implementation and utilization through the use of
21  electronic applications on electronic devices, including, but
22  not limited to, smartphones, tablets, and laptop computers.
23  (b) Each school board or the board's designee is required
24  to participate in the annual review and to invite each of the
25  following parties to the annual review and provide each party
26  with a minimum of 30 days' notice before the date of the annual

 

 

  SB0071 Engrossed - 6 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b


SB0071 Engrossed- 7 -LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b   SB0071 Engrossed - 7 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
  SB0071 Engrossed - 7 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
1  review:
2  (1) The principal of each school within the school
3  district or his or her official designee.
4  (2) Representatives from any other education-related
5  organization or association deemed appropriate by the
6  school district.
7  (3) Representatives from all local first responder
8  organizations to participate, advise, and consult in the
9  review process, including, but not limited to:
10  (A) the appropriate local fire department or
11  district;
12  (B) the appropriate local law enforcement agency;
13  (C) the appropriate local emergency medical
14  services agency if the agency is a separate, local
15  first responder unit; and
16  (D) any other member of the first responder or
17  emergency management community that has contacted the
18  district superintendent or his or her designee during
19  the past year to request involvement in a school's
20  emergency planning or drill process; and .
21  (E) the applicable emergency services and disaster
22  agency or the applicable local emergency planning
23  committee.
24  (4) The school board or its designee may also choose
25  to invite to the annual review any other persons whom it
26  believes will aid in the review process, including, but

 

 

  SB0071 Engrossed - 7 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b


SB0071 Engrossed- 8 -LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b   SB0071 Engrossed - 8 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
  SB0071 Engrossed - 8 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
1  not limited to, any members of any other education-related
2  organization or the first responder or emergency
3  management community.
4  (c) Upon the conclusion of the annual review, the school
5  board or the board's designee shall sign a one page report,
6  which may be in either a check-off format or a narrative
7  format, that does the following:
8  (1) summarizes the review's recommended changes to the
9  existing school safety plans and drill plans;
10  (2) lists the parties that participated in the annual
11  review, and includes the annual review's attendance
12  record;
13  (3) certifies that an effective review of the
14  emergency and crisis response plans, protocols, and
15  procedures and the school safety drill programs of the
16  district and each of its school buildings has occurred;
17  (4) states that the school district will implement
18  those plans, protocols, procedures, and programs, during
19  the academic year; and
20  (5) includes the authorization of the school board or
21  the board's designee.
22  (d) The school board or its designee shall send a copy of
23  the report to each party that participates in the annual
24  review process and to the appropriate regional superintendent
25  of schools. If any of the participating parties have comments
26  on the certification document, those parties shall submit

 

 

  SB0071 Engrossed - 8 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b


SB0071 Engrossed- 9 -LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b   SB0071 Engrossed - 9 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
  SB0071 Engrossed - 9 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
1  their comments in writing to the appropriate regional
2  superintendent. The regional superintendent shall maintain a
3  record of these comments. The certification document may be in
4  a check-off format or narrative format, at the discretion of
5  the district superintendent.
6  (e) The review must occur at least once during the fiscal
7  year, at a specific time chosen at the school district
8  superintendent's discretion.
9  (f) A private school shall conduct a minimum of one annual
10  meeting at which the school must review each school building's
11  emergency and crisis response plans, protocols, and
12  procedures, including procedures regarding the school's
13  cardiac emergency response plan, and each building's
14  compliance with the school safety drill programs of the
15  school. The purpose of this annual review shall be to review
16  and update the emergency and crisis response plans, protocols,
17  and procedures and the school safety drill programs of the
18  school. This review must be at no cost to the private school.
19  The private school shall invite representatives from all
20  local first responder organizations to participate, advise,
21  and consult in the review process, including, but not limited
22  to, the following:
23  (1) the appropriate local fire department or fire
24  protection district;
25  (2) the appropriate local law enforcement agency;
26  (3) the appropriate local emergency medical services

 

 

  SB0071 Engrossed - 9 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b


SB0071 Engrossed- 10 -LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b   SB0071 Engrossed - 10 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
  SB0071 Engrossed - 10 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
1  agency if the agency is a separate, local first responder
2  unit; and
3  (4) any other member of the first responder or
4  emergency management community that has contacted the
5  school's chief administrative officer or his or her
6  designee during the past year to request involvement in
7  the school's emergency planning or drill process.
8  (Source: P.A. 102-395, eff. 8-16-21; 103-608, eff. 1-1-25.)
9  (105 ILCS 128/65 new)
10  Sec. 65. Hazardous substance release guidance and
11  procedures.
12  (a) By July 1, 2026, the Illinois Emergency Management
13  Agency and Office of Homeland Security, in consultation with
14  the State Board of Education, shall develop and provide
15  guidance to all local emergency planning committees, emergency
16  services and disaster agencies, and school districts in the
17  State specifically related to the potential impact to school
18  districts of a release or explosion of a hazardous substance
19  resulting from storage or rail transport. This guidance shall
20  also be made available to these entities on the website of the
21  Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland
22  Security.
23  (b) The guidance developed under subsection (a) shall
24  include:
25  (1) a description of the methods and procedures to be

 

 

  SB0071 Engrossed - 10 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b


SB0071 Engrossed- 11 -LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b   SB0071 Engrossed - 11 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
  SB0071 Engrossed - 11 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
1  followed by school personnel in response to a release or
2  explosion of a hazardous substance;
3  (2) a description of the federal, State, or local
4  agencies, including first responders, responsible for
5  identifying whether the release or explosion of a
6  hazardous substance has occurred and how that information
7  will be communicated to school personnel, including any
8  appropriate precautions school districts should take to
9  protect their students and staff and how the wind
10  direction may impact their evacuation plans;
11  (3) recommendations for school evacuation plans,
12  including recommendations for an alternative plan if
13  advised by federal, State, or local agencies, including
14  first responders, that one is needed due to the wind
15  direction;
16  (4) a list of available training programs;
17  (5) a description of recommended communication
18  protocols for school districts with first responders,
19  local law enforcement agencies, and other local, State, or
20  federal emergency management agencies; and
21  (6) a list of instructions for school districts on how
22  to identify their applicable local emergency planning
23  committee or emergency services and disaster agency.
24  (c) By July 1, 2027, each school district shall, in
25  consultation with the applicable local emergency planning
26  committee or emergency services and disaster agency, develop

 

 

  SB0071 Engrossed - 11 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b


SB0071 Engrossed- 12 -LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b   SB0071 Engrossed - 12 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
  SB0071 Engrossed - 12 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b
1  procedures for each of its schools to address the release or
2  explosion of a hazardous substance based on the guidance
3  developed under subsection (a). However, a school district is
4  not required to develop procedures until the guidance provided
5  in subsection (a) is made available on the website of the
6  Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland
7  Security.
8  (d) Each school district shall make available to all
9  school personnel relevant and appropriate information related
10  to the procedures in subsection (c), including identified
11  evacuation plans, as well as alternative evacuation plans,
12  safe locations where student and staff can seek shelter, and a
13  description of how that information will be communicated to
14  school personnel in such an emergency.

 

 

  SB0071 Engrossed - 12 - LRB104 07353 LNS 17393 b