Bill > SB966

This bill requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to ensure that all public and charter schools located in St. Louis City and St. Louis County conduct annual safety assessments, with assistance from local emergency services and law enforcement. The safety assessments must comprehensively evaluate each school's vulnerabilities to potential threats like shootings and intruders, examining specific safety measures including access controls, video surveillance, visitor management systems, security systems, emergency communication tools, safety procedures, bleeding control kits, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), fencing, bollards, and safety film. Schools must submit annual reports of their findings to DESE, which will then provide each school with a summary of its safety vulnerabilities, specific recommendations for mitigation, and share a report with the state legislature. Importantly, these reports will not be considered public records and will remain confidential. The bill does not absolve schools of their existing safety standard responsibilities, and the provisions will take effect on July 1, 2028, giving schools ample time to prepare and implement the required assessments and safety measures.

Education

https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=674