Bill > SB263

This bill establishes comprehensive standards and requirements for active shooter drills in Kansas public and accredited nonpublic elementary and secondary schools, with the goal of making such drills safe, age-appropriate, and minimally traumatic. The bill defines an "active shooter drill" as an emergency preparedness exercise designed to teach students and staff how to respond to a potential armed intruder, explicitly excluding any simulation that mimics a real-life shooting. Schools must ensure that such drills are accessible, developmentally appropriate, culturally aware, trauma-informed, and inclusive of students with various disabilities. Parents must be notified at least 24 hours before a drill and can opt their children out without penalty, with alternative safety education provided. Each drill must include a post-drill debriefing and access to mental health services, and drills must be announced as a practice to reduce anxiety. The bill also mandates that schools provide annual violence prevention training for students in grades six through twelve, teaching them how to identify warning signs, take threats seriously, and report potentially dangerous situations. Additionally, schools must provide opportunities for students to contribute to safety planning, including leadership roles and safety-focused clubs. The legislation aims to balance school safety preparedness with student mental health and wellbeing.

Education

Federal and State Affairs (S)

https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb263/