Division of the Budget
Landon State Office Building Phone: (785) 296-2436
900 SW Jackson Street, Room 504 adam.c.proffitt@ks.gov
Topeka, KS 66612 http://budget.kansas.gov
Adam C. Proffitt, Director Laura Kelly, Governor
Division of the Budget
February 21, 2025
The Honorable Renee Erickson, Chairperson
Senate Committee on Education
300 SW 10th Avenue, Room 144-S
Topeka, Kansas 66612
Dear Senator Erickson:
SUBJECT: Fiscal Note for SB 263 by Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs
In accordance with KSA 75-3715a, the following fiscal note concerning SB 263 is
respectfully submitted to your committee.
SB 263 would establish standards and requirements for active shooter drills conducted by
public and accredited nonpublic elementary and secondary schools. An active shooter drill would
not be conducted consecutively or concurrently with any other crisis or emergency preparedness
drill. The school would be required to notify each parent or acting parent at least 24 hours prior
to an active shooter drill. The parent may opt their child out of the drill and would have the
opportunity to participate in alternative safety education without punitive treatment by the school.
The Department of Education would be required to establish criteria for alternative safety
education for students who are opted out of the drill. Criteria of the education would include
essential safety instruction and training that is appropriate for students with mobility restrictions,
sensory needs, or other limitations. Active shooter protocols would include a reasonable amount
of time immediately following the drill for teachers to debrief with students. An active shooter
drill would be announced as practice prior to the commencement of the drill in a manner that is
concise and age appropriate and informs students that there is no immediate danger to life and
safety.
The Department of Education would be required to partner with the Department of Health
and Environment to create guidelines for measuring the effectiveness of active shooter drills. The
guidelines would be provided to every school and would be made available to the public for
review.
No student would be required to participate in an active shooter simulation. No active
shooter simulation could occur during regular school hours while students are present or expected The Honorable Renee Erickson, Chairperson
Page 2—SB 263
to be present at school. Parents of students in grades nine through 12 may opt their student into
participation in a simulation by providing written notice to the school.
Every school would be required to provide students in grades six through 12 at least one
hour or one standard class period of evidence-based violence prevention training annually. The
training would teach students: (1) how to identify observable warning signs and signals of
individuals who may be at risk for harming themselves or others; (2) the importance of taking
threats seriously and seeking help; and (3) the steps that students can take to report dangerous,
violent, threatening, harmful, or potentially harmful activity. On or before October 1, 2026, the
Department of Education would be required to develop and publish on its website a list of
evidence-based training options for schools. The list would be required to include no-cost
programming, and the Department would have to update the list at least once every two years.
Schools may use any evidence-based training regardless if the training is on the list as long as the
training meets the requirements of the bill.
Each local board of education and governing body of a nonpublic school would have to
ensure that students can contribute to school safety and violence-prevention planning. The school
should provide student opportunities for prevention safety leadership roles and encouragement and
support to students in establishing clubs and programs focused on safety. Schools should provide
the opportunity for students to learn about and seek help from adults regarding prevention for
bullying, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and suicide.
Finally, the bill would authorize the State Fire Marshal to grant an exemption that
authorizes a variance for the number or manner of drills outlined in SB 263 for students receiving
special education or related services.
The Department of Education, the Department of Health and Environment, and the State
Fire Marshal indicate that the enactment of SB 263 would have no fiscal effect on state
expenditures. There may be costs to school districts to implement requirements of the bill,
including required trainings; however, a fiscal effect cannot be estimated.
Sincerely,
Adam C. Proffitt
Director of the Budget
cc: Gabrielle Hull, Department of Education
Jamie Rodvelt, Office of the State Fire Marshal