Senate Bill 2185 - Students Safe at School Act

• Requires all active shooter drills involving K-12 students to be accessible, developmentally appropriate, culturally aware, trauma-informed, and include accommodations for students with disabilities and mental health needs.

• Mandates at least 24 hours advance notice to parents before practice drills with opt-out rights; prohibits negative attendance marks or school activity penalties for students who do not participate.

• Prohibits K-12 students from being required to participate in active shooter simulations; limits simulations to non-school hours when majority of students are absent unless grades 9-12 parents opt their student in with written permission.

• Requires schools conducting drills to provide grades 6-12 students with at least one hour of evidence-based violence prevention training annually covering warning signs, threat assessment, and reporting procedures.

• Directs the Department of Education to create effectiveness guidelines for drills in partnership with the Department of Mental Health and requires school boards to hold annual meetings reviewing drill efficacy and impacts on student and staff mental health and safety.