SB 242 Summary

• Requires the secured school safety board to develop statewide standardized communication and response protocols enabling schools and first responders to communicate clearly and respond quickly to emergency situations.

• Protocols must include standardized response options such as "lockdown," "shelter in place," or "evacuate" with detailed actions for students and staff implementing each response.

• Requires standard terminology for schools to describe emergencies and responses to first responders (e.g., "This is ABC Elementary, we have a natural gas leak, we are evacuating").

• Mandates inclusion of best practices for alerting students, staff, and first responders; standard terminology for first responder communications; and joint training protocols for schools and first responders.

• Allows the board to meet in executive session to establish protocols, with communications remaining confidential unless the board determines otherwise; effective July 1, 2014.