Bill Summary for S 5 (2019-2020)

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Summary date: 

Jul 17 2019

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2019-2020 Session
Senate Bill 5 (Public) Filed Wednesday, January 30, 2019
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THAT SCHOOL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CLARIFY THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CENTER FOR SAFER SCHOOLS, REQUIRE REPORTING ON THE OPERATIONAL STATUS OF ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURING STATES OF EMERGENCY, DEFINE THE TERM "SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER" AND REQUIRE TRAINING FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, REQUIRE ANNUAL VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS FOR EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, REQUIRE THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAMS BE ESTABLISHED AT EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL AND CODIFY THE DUTIES OF THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAMS, REQUIRE LME/MCOS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS REFERRED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, REQUIRE LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO REQUIRE PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS AT ALL SCHOOLS WITH GRADES SIX AND HIGHER, AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER OF UNENCUMBERED FUNDS PROVIDED FOR THE ANONYMOUS SAFETY TIP LINE APPLICATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A DIGITAL PANIC ALARM APPLICATION, AND PROVIDE FOR TRAUMA KITS IN SCHOOLS.
Intro. by Brown, Harrington, Krawiec.

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Bill summary

House committee substitute to the 4th edition makes the following changes.

Part I. Requirements for School Safety For All Public Schools

Amends proposed GS 115C-551(b) and GS 115C-559(b) to strongly encourage (was, encourage) private schools and schools with religious charter, and qualified nonpublic schools, to adopt a School Risk Management Plan, conduct annual school safety exercises, and provide specified diagrams and safety information to local law enforcement and the Division of Emergency Management, as previously specified.

Part VI. Threat Assessment Teams.

Modifies proposed GS 115C-105.60, which requires public school units to adopt the policies for establishing threat assessment teams, changing the statute's terminology to more specifically concern a threat by a student, rather than an individual. Concerning the required makeup of the threat assessment team, allows for a psychologist or psychiatrist to be a member instead of a school psychologist if one is not available, if practicable.

Adds new Part VII. Funding For Digital Panic Alarm Application.

Requires the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to transfer up to $1.5 million of the unencumbered balance of the funds appropriated to DPI for the 2018-19 fiscal year for the anonymous safety tip line application to be used to continue implementation of a digital panic alarm application based on the May 2018 Division of Emergency Management report, as identified. 

Adds new Part VIII. Trauma Kits in Schools.

Enacts GS 115C-105.52B, requiring the governing body of each public school unit to place at least one trauma kit at an appropriate and easily accessible location in each classroom of every school within the unit. Details permissible contents of trauma kits, subject to the principal or administrator's discretion. Requires trauma kit placement be coordinated with the superintendent or equivalent administrator, the principal or equivalent administrator, and local law enforcement and emergency management agencies within the jurisdiction. Requires biannual training on the appropriate use of a trauma kit for all school personnel who are reasonably expected to use the kit, as determined by the superintendent or equivalent administrator. Requires DPI and the Center for Safer Schools to consult with the Department of Public Safety to provide or contract for adequate training on the use of trauma kits, which must meet several specified qualifications. Requires annual inspection and replacement, as necessary, of the kits by the principal or equivalent administrator of each school within a public school unit. Directs DPI to create, no later than January 1, 2020,  an online usage tool to permit principals or equivalent administrators to provide specified information on the use and contents of all trauma kits in their schools.  Requires DPI to annually report, beginning by August 1, 2021, the most recent information provided by the tool to the specified NCGA committee and division.

Amends GS 115C-47 (concerning the duties of local boards of education), GS 115C-12 (concerning the duties of the State Board of Education), GS 115C-218.75 (concerning charter school operating requirements), GS 115C-238.66 (concerning the duties of boards of directors of regional schools), and GS 116-11 (concerning the duties of the UNC Board of Governors). Requires the placement of at least one trauma kit in each classroom of every school operated by or under the control of the authorities set out in the specified statutes. 

Amends GS 115C-105.49, to require a presentation be made on the location and use of any trauma kits placed in the school by each school of a local unit, at least annually, along with the existing requirement for each school to hold a full school-wide tabletop exercise and drill based on the procedures in its School Risk Management Plan (SRMP).

Effective July 1, 2019, and applies beginning with the 2019-20 school year. 

Makes conforming changes to the act's long title.