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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1903 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1708
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patricia D. Jehlen
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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 fire safety education in schools and colleges.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patricia D. JehlenSecond MiddlesexMichael J. BarrettThird Middlesex2/3/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1903 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1708
By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1708) of Patricia D. Jehlen and
Michael J. Barrett relative to fire safety education in schools and colleges. Public Safety and
Homeland Security.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2313 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to fire safety education in schools and colleges.
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. Chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official
2Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 47 the following section:-
3 Section 48. Establishment of a fire safety curriculum. (a) For the purposes of this section,
4the following term shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following
5meaning:- “Institute of higher education”, all postsecondary institutions including: (i) the system
6of public institutions of higher education, established in section 5; (ii) private occupational
7schools, as defined in section 263 of chapter 112; and (iii) private colleges, universities and other
8institutions of higher learning. 2 of 2
9 (b) All institutes of higher education shall require students to complete a comprehensive
10fire safety curriculum from an expert source. The curriculum shall cover fire safety in a variety
11of scenarios, including, but not limited to, fire prevention and escape, what to do in case of both
12smoldering and flaming fires, kitchen fires, electrical fires, vehicle fires, smoke inhalation, and
13carbon monoxide poisoning. Students shall complete an examination to test student proficiency.
14 SECTION 2. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
15is hereby amended by inserting after section 99 the following section:-
16 Section 100. Establishment of a fire safety curriculum. (a) For the purposes of this
17section, the following term shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the
18following meaning:- “School”, every public or private elementary and secondary school in the
19commonwealth; provided, however, that the term school shall not include colleges and
20universities.
21 (b) All schools shall require students to complete a comprehensive fire safety curriculum
22by the end of the 10th grade from an expert source. The curriculum shall cover fire safety in a
23variety of scenarios, including, but not limited to, fire prevention and escape, what to do in case
24of both smoldering and flaming fires, kitchen fires, electrical fires, vehicle fires, smoke
25inhalation, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Students shall complete an examination to test
26student proficiency.