Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H611 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 64 FILED ON: 1/6/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 611
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Steven George Xiarhos
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to school safety.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable1/6/2023Mathew J. Muratore1st Plymouth1/13/2023Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex2/15/2023Paul K. Frost7th Worcester2/16/2023F. Jay Barrows1st Bristol2/16/2023Susan Williams Gifford2nd Plymouth2/16/2023Steven S. Howitt4th Bristol2/16/2023Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester2/16/2023Kelly W. Pease4th Hampden3/2/2023 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 64 FILED ON: 1/6/2023
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 611
18	18	By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 611) of
19	19	Steven George Xiarhos and others relative to the safety and security of school buildings and
20	20	plans for emergency response to active shooter situations. Education.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
24	24	(2023-2024)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act relative to school safety.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as
30	30	2appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following subclause:
31	31	3 (w) any policy or report by any city, town, or school district concerning the safety and
32	32	4security of school buildings and plans for emergency response to active shooter situations.
33	33	5 SECTION 2. Chapter 41 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
34	34	6section 97D the following section:-
35	35	7 Section 97D½. Every city and town in the commonwealth shall establish a special
36	36	8telephone exchange for the reporting of threats to school buildings, which may be utilized at any
37	37	9hour of day or night, and shall widely publicize this number and the protocol for its usage
38	38	10throughout the city or town. 2 of 3
39	39	11 SECTION 3. Chapter 41 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting
40	40	12after section 98B the following section:-
41	41	13 Section 98B½. (a) In any city or town that accepts the provisions of this section there
42	42	14shall be a school resource officer, as defined in subsection (a) of section 37P of chapter 71,
43	43	15assigned to each school building within such city or town, who will be present within the school
44	44	16building during all regular hours of instruction for the purpose of ensuring school safety and such
45	45	17other duties as the chief of the police department may otherwise determine from time to time.
46	46	18The assignment of a school resource officer shall be accompanied by a memorandum of
47	47	19understanding that shall comply with said section 37P of said chapter 71.
48	48	20 (b) The department of elementary and secondary education shall assist each school
49	49	21district in applying for any available funds or grants to provide support for target hardening and
50	50	22other physical security enhancements to school buildings and school property in each school
51	51	23district of the commonwealth.
52	52	24 SECTION 4. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
53	53	25section 2C the following section:-
54	54	26 Section 2C½. Each school district in the commonwealth, subject to appropriation and in
55	55	27coordination with the chief of the local police department, shall implement a specific policy for
56	56	28the training of students and staff members in the appropriate response to active shooters on
57	57	29school grounds. Said policy shall include, at a minimum: (i) requirements for regular training
58	58	30sessions for students and staff in the event of an emergency; (ii) requirements for regular audits
59	59	31of school buildings for safety and security by the school district and police department of the
60	60	32municipality in which the school is located; and (iii) recommendations for making sure every 3 of 3
61	61	33school building has a single access point, hardened locks and windows and a video surveillance
62	62	34system monitoring the interior and exterior public areas of the school property and connected to
63	63	35local police.
64	64	36 Annually, not later than December 31, each school district shall submit a copy of its
65	65	37policy, together with a report of its activities pursuant to this section, to the department of
66	66	38elementary and secondary education and the executive office of public safety and security for
67	67	39their review and comment. Annually, not later than March 1, the department of elementary and
68	68	40secondary education shall file a report summarizing local compliance with this section with the
69	69	41clerks of the senate and the house of representatives; provided, that no information regarding
70	70	42specific plans, procedures or school buildings shall be considered a public record subject to
71	71	43disclosure, as defined in clause Twenty-Sixth of section 7 of chapter 4.