Bill > H7898

This bill mandates the installation and use of weapon detection systems at every public entrance to school buildings, gymnasiums, school event facilities, sporting event sites, and any location where a school hosts or participates in an event, even if it's off campus. A "public entrance" is defined as the main entry point to these locations. A "school" encompasses any private or public elementary or secondary (K-12) educational institution, including charter schools, independent schools, and mayoral academies. A "weapon detection system" refers to technology designed to identify weapons like firearms or hazardous objects, regardless of how they are carried or possessed. Starting January 1, 2027, all these locations must have these systems installed at public entrances; any entrances without such systems must be locked and alarmed to prevent unauthorized entry from the outside, while still allowing for safe exit from the inside to meet fire safety codes. The bill also requires the Rhode Island Department of Education, in collaboration with the Attorney General's office and state law enforcement, to provide training on the use and maintenance of these systems to school officials, who will then be responsible for operating the equipment and responding to detected contraband. The Department of Education will also create rules and regulations to put these provisions into effect, and the act will become law upon its passage.