Bill > H5201

This bill, titled the "Safe Schools Act of 2026," establishes a Multijurisdictional School Safety Task Force, comprised of representatives from various state agencies, law enforcement, education, mental health, and school administration, to develop statewide school safety policies and provide guidance. It mandates that all school districts create and annually update Multihazard Emergency Operation Plans (MEOPs) that address prevention, response, communication, and continuity of operations, which will be audited by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and its Center for School Safety and Targeted Violence. Furthermore, schools must undergo in-person safety assessments by certified security assessors, who possess specific credentials beyond general law enforcement experience, at least every three years, and conduct live, in-person drills for fire, active shooter/intruder, and severe weather events each academic year, informed by these assessments. SLED will oversee compliance, offering technical assistance and potentially withholding funds or requiring corrective action plans for non-compliant districts, with full implementation required by July 1, 2027.

Education

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=5201&session=126&summary=B