HF 586 (LSB 2481YH (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 586

BY  VONDRAN

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the development of a policy governing responses to a fire alarm activated on school grounds outside of a scheduled fire drill by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256E.7, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  8A.  Each charter school governing board shall adopt a policy that directs how students, charter school employees, and individuals who are not charter school employees but who are required as part of the individual’s employment to regularly be present in a school building are to respond when a fire alarm is activated on school grounds outside of a scheduled fire drill to protect such individuals in the event the fire alarm was activated due to the presence of an active shooter on school grounds.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256F.4, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  9.  Each charter school or innovation zone school shall adopt a policy that directs how students, school employees, and individuals who are not school employees but who are required as part of the individual’s employment to regularly be present in a school building are to respond when a fire alarm is activated on school grounds outside of a scheduled fire drill to protect such individuals in the event the fire alarm was activated due to the presence of an active shooter on school grounds.
    Sec. 3.  Section 280.30, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The board of directors of a school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall develop a high-quality emergency operations plan for the district and individual school buildings in which students are educated no later than June 30, 2019. The plan shall include but not be limited to responses to active shooter scenarios and natural disasters. The plan shall provide that any alert regarding an emergency situation that is transmitted to school personnel or students by electronic means shall also be transmitted to the employer of any individual who is not a school employee but who is required as a part of the individual’s employment to regularly be present in a school building during the school year. The plan shall include publication of procedures for school personnel, parents, and guardians to report possible threats to the safety of students or school personnel on school grounds or at school activities. The board and authorities shall consider any recommendations of the department of education relating to the development of a high-quality emergency operations plan and shall consult with local emergency management coordinators and local law enforcement agencies in the development of the plan. The board and authorities shall review and update the plan on an annual basis. The plan shall be confidential and shall not be a public record subject to disclosure under chapter 22.  The plan shall include all of the following:
   a.  Responses to active shooter scenarios and natural disasters.
   b.  The publication of procedures for school personnel, parents, and guardians to report possible threats to the safety of students or school personnel on school grounds or at school activities.
   c.  A policy that directs how students, school employees, and individuals who are not school employees but who are required as part of the individual’s employment to regularly be present in a school building are to respond when a fire alarm is activated on school grounds outside of a scheduled fire drill to protect such individuals in the event the fire alarm was activated due to the presence of an active shooter on school grounds.
    Sec. 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the development of a policy governing responses to a fire alarm activated on school grounds outside of a scheduled fire drill by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools.
   The bill requires that school districts and accredited nonpublic schools include in the high-quality school building emergency operations plan a policy that directs how students, school employees, and individuals who are not school employees but who are required as part of the individual’s employment to regularly be present in a school building are to respond when a fire alarm is activated on school grounds outside of a scheduled fire drill to protect such individuals in the event the fire alarm was activated due to the presence of an active shooter on school grounds. The bill also requires charter schools and innovation zone schools to adopt such a policy.
   The bill takes effect upon enactment.