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Bill > SB263


KS SB263

Establishing standards and requirements for active shooter drills conducted by public and accredited nonpublic elementary and secondary schools.


summary

Introduced
02/11/2025
In Committee
03/18/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT concerning schools; relating to crisis drills; establishing standards and requirements for active shooter drills conducted by public and accredited nonpublic elementary and secondary schools; amending K.S.A. 31-133 and repealing the existing section.

AI Summary

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.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (0)

No sponsors listed

Other Sponsors (1)

Federal and State Affairs (S)

Last Action

Senate Committee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Education (on 03/18/2025)

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