NJ A4540

School districts and nonpublic schools must develop emergency operations plans covering fires, active shooters, natural disasters, environmental disasters, and pandemics, coordinated with state and local emergency management authorities.

Plans must be submitted to the Commissioner of Education, State Office of Emergency Management, Department of Health, and Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness within six months of the act's effective date, with mandatory updates every five years.

Emergency operations plans are exempt from public records laws and will not be available for public inspection or copying.

Students must receive annual instruction on their school's emergency operations plan, including their expectations and responsibilities during emergencies.

School districts must incorporate environmental and natural disaster instruction into science, health/physical education, and social studies curricula for grades K-12, covering disaster types in New Jersey, evacuation procedures, and preparedness planning.