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