HF 603 (LSB 1839YH (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 603

BY  NORDMAN

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to school safety, including grant programs, attendance center standards, and emergency planning, and making appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  256.20  Attendance center doors —— grant program —— fund established.
   1.  If moneys are appropriated by the general assembly for a fiscal year for purposes of this section, the department shall establish an attendance center doors grant program to provide grants to applicant school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to allow such schools to purchase doors that comply with the requirements established under section 280.37, subsection 1, paragraph “c” or “d”.
   2.  The state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer the attendance center doors grant program. The rules adopted by the state board of education must establish an application process, application materials, eligibility requirements, and award criteria.
   3.  An attendance center doors grant program fund is established in the state treasury under the control of the department. The fund shall be administered by the department and shall consist of moneys appropriated by the general assembly and other moneys received by the department for deposits in the fund. The moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department for the attendance center doors grant program. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund of the state but shall remain available for expenditure for the attendance center doors grant program for subsequent fiscal years. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on the moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256E.7, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraphs:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  0t.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 280.36 relating to electronic school threat reporting platforms, access control plans, and visitor entry plans in the same manner as a school district.
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  00t.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 280.37 relating to attendance center doors and the locks on attendance center doors, vestibules, windows, and video surveillance systems in the same manner as a school district.
    Sec. 3.  Section 256F.4, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraphs:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  r.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 280.36 relating to electronic school threat reporting platforms, access control plans, and visitor entry plans in the same manner as a school district.
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  s.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 280.37 relating to attendance center doors and the locks on attendance center doors, vestibules, windows, and video surveillance systems in the same manner as a school district.
    Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  280.36  School safety —— threat reporting —— access control plans and visitor entry plans.
   1.  The board of directors of each school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall do all of the following with respect to the school safety bureau’s electronic school threat reporting platform:
   a.  Sign up for, and participate in, the electronic school threat reporting platform.
   b.  Publish a link to the electronic school threat reporting platform on the school district’s or accredited nonpublic school’s internet site.
   c.  Provide training to students and employees related to how to use the electronic school threat reporting platform.
   2.  The board of directors of each school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall do all of the following:
   a.  Develop and implement an access control plan that allows the school district or accredited nonpublic school to monitor and restrict who may enter an attendance center, prevent unauthorized access to attendance centers, and mitigate potential threats to students, staff, and school property.
   b.  Develop and implement a visitor entry plan that allows the school district or accredited nonpublic school to effectively identify, vet, and monitor all visitors to attendance centers.
   3.  The state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  280.37  School safety —— physical infrastructure.
   1.  The board of directors of each school district and the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school shall do all of the following:
   a.  Install new door systems, or modify existing door systems, to prevent an active shooter or other perpetrator from blocking or otherwise restricting means of ingress or egress through any attendance center door.
   b.  (1)  Label each exterior door to each attendance center, on both the interior side and exterior side of the door, using a sequential numbering system that begins at the primary door to the attendance center and proceeds clockwise around the attendance center. The labels placed on the exterior of the door must be at least twelve inches tall, must be reflective, and must be visible from adjacent streets and driveways.
   (2)  Label each interior door located within each attendance center, on both the interior side and exterior side of the door, using a sequential numbering system.
   (3)  Ensure that the high-quality emergency operations plan developed pursuant to section 280.30 is updated to reflect the labeling of doors required under subparagraphs (1) and (2).
   c.  Require that the classroom doors in any attendance center that is constructed on or after the effective date of this Act include locks that satisfy all of the following requirements:
   (1)  The locks must allow the door to be locked from the classroom side without a key, tool, or special knowledge or effort.
   (2)  The locks must allow the door to be unlocked from the classroom side without a key, tool, or special knowledge or effort, even if the lock is remotely engaged.
   (3)  The locks must allow the door to be unlocked from outside the classroom only if a key, code, credential, or other method of deactivation is used.
   (4)  The locks must allow for single-motion egress.
   d.  Require that, if the classroom doors in any attendance center need to be replaced or upgraded on or after the effective date of this Act, the locks on the replacement or upgraded doors must satisfy all of the requirements established in paragraph “c”.
   e.  Require any attendance center that is constructed on or after the effective date of this Act to include a secure vestibule system that is designed to provide for the identification and vetting of a visitor before the visitor is allowed to enter the interior of the attendance center. The secure vestibule system must satisfy all of the following requirements:
   (1)  The system must include a two-way audio and video communication system.
   (2)  The system must include an electronic door release system.
   (3)  Any glass in the vestibule that is less than seven feet from the floor of the vestibule must be shatter resistant and intrusion resistant.
   f.  Require that, if the structure of an attendance center is renovated on or after the effective date of this Act, the board of directors of the school district or the authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school must evaluate whether the renovation should include the incorporation of a secure vestibule system that satisfies the requirements established in paragraph “e”.
   g.  Require that all exterior doors and access-level windows in any attendance center that is constructed on or after the effective date of this Act be shatter resistant or intrusion resistant.
   h.  Require that, if any exterior doors or access-level windows in any attendance center need to be replaced or upgraded on or after the effective date of this Act, the replacement doors or access-level windows must be shatter resistant or intrusion resistant.
   i.  Require that all interior doors and windows in any attendance center, including sidelights that are near a door and large enough, if broken, to allow a person to enter the room or access the door’s locking mechanism, in any attendance center that is constructed on or after the effective date of this Act be shatter resistant or intrusion resistant.
   j.  Require that, if any interior doors or windows in any attendance center, including sidelights that are near a door and large enough, if broken, to allow a person to enter the room or access the door’s locking mechanism, need to be replaced or upgraded on or after the effective date of this Act, the replacement doors or windows must be shatter resistant or intrusion resistant.
   k.  Install a video surveillance system in each attendance center that satisfies all of the following requirements:
   (1)  The video surveillance system must be consistent with the requirements of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. §1232g, and any regulations promulgated pursuant to that Act.
   (2)  In the interior of the attendance center, the video surveillance system’s coverage must extend beyond entry points and cover areas that are not within the normal view of staff or security personnel, including hallways and enclosed stairwells.
   (3)  On the exterior of the attendance center, the video surveillance system’s coverage must cover the attendance center’s facilities and parking areas.
   (4)  The video surveillance system must allow local law enforcement and first responders to access the system in the event of an active health or safety emergency event.
   2.  The board of directors of a school district and the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school may adopt policies and acquire equipment to ensure that all employees of the school district or accredited nonpublic school are able to communicate with the school district’s or accredited nonpublic school’s administrative office in emergency situations while the employee is in an instructional area located on school property or in an outdoor recreation area on school property.
   3.  The state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
    Sec. 6.  SCHOOL EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL USE OF SHATTER-RESISTANT FILM AND INTRUSION-RESISTANT FILM.  The board of directors of each school district, the authorities in charge of each accredited nonpublic school, and the governing body of each charter school and innovation zone school shall evaluate the potential use of shatter-resistant film or intrusion-resistant film in all attendance centers, including in all windows, windowed doors, and sidelights that are large enough for a person to enter or gain access to a locking mechanism.
    Sec. 7.  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION —— REVIEW OF REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH-QUALITY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLANS.
   1.  The department of education shall review and study the requirements associated with the high-quality emergency operations plans developed by school districts and accredited nonpublic schools pursuant to section 280.30. The department of education shall consider all of the following during the review and study:
   a.  Whether and to what extent the department should adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to provide guidance in the development of high-quality emergency operations plans.
   b.  Whether a privacy warning should be included at the beginning of each high-quality emergency operations plan.
   c.  How to best incorporate all of the following into the high-quality emergency operations plans:
   (1)  Building maps, site maps, and critical incident maps.
   (2)  Training for teachers, staff responsible for students who are not in a designated classroom space, bus drivers, substitute teachers and other floating staff, and facilities staff.
   (3)  Plans to collaborate with first responders, including the appointment of a school safety and security contact and how first responders will gain access to attendance centers, building maps, site plans, and critical incidents maps.
   (4)  An emergency mass notification plan.
   (5)  An annual review of vulnerabilities and physical measures used to strengthen school security conducted in collaboration with law enforcement or emergency management personnel.
   (6)  Plans to coordinate with local law enforcement to determine the functionality of in-building, two-way emergency responder communication coverage for all areas on school district or accredited nonpublic school property in which students and staff may regularly be located.
   d.  How to best include first responders in the annual drills required in high-quality emergency operations plans.
   e.  How school districts and accredited nonpublic schools can internally assess the functionality of the drills conducted under high-quality emergency operations plans and use the results of the assessment to improve the school district’s or accredited nonpublic school’s high-quality emergency operations plan.
   2.  The department of education shall submit its findings and recommendations to the general assembly on or before December 31, 2025. The findings and recommendations shall include a proposal for modifications to section 280.30.
    Sec. 8.  STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED.  In accordance with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under section 257.16. This specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed to meet all of the state funding-related requirements of section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school districts.
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 school safety, including grant programs, attendance center standards, and emergency planning.
   The bill provides that if moneys are appropriated by the general assembly, DE is required to establish an attendance center doors grant program to provide grants to applicant school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to allow such schools to purchase doors that comply with the bill’s requirements related to locks on attendance center doors. The state board of education is required to adopt rules to administer the grant program. The bill establishes an attendance center doors grant program fund in the state treasury.
   The bill requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to sign up for, and participate in, the school safety bureau’s electronic threat reporting platform, to publish a link to the electronic school threat reporting platform on the school’s internet site, and to provide training to students and employees related to how to use the electronic school threat reporting platform.
   The bill requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to develop and implement an access control plan that allows the school to monitor and restrict who may enter an attendance center, prevent unauthorized access to attendance centers, and mitigate potential threats to students, staff, and school property. The bill also requires schools to develop and implement a visitor entry plan that allows the school to effectively identify, vet, and monitor all visitors to attendance centers. The bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules to administer these provisions.
   The bill requires school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to do all of the following: install new door systems, or modify existing door systems, to prevent an active shooter or other perpetrator from blocking or otherwise restricting means of ingress or egress through any attendance center door; label each attendance center door, on both sides of the door, using a sequential numbering system that satisfies the bill’s requirements and update the school’s high-quality emergency operations plan accordingly; require that the classroom doors in any attendance center constructed on or after the bill’s effective date include locks that satisfy certain specified requirements; require that, if the classroom doors in any attendance center need to be replaced or upgraded on or after the bill’s effective date, the locks on the replacement or upgraded doors must satisfy certain specified requirements; require any attendance center that is constructed on or after the bill’s effective date to include a secure vestibule system; require that, if the structure of an attendance center is renovated on or after the bill’s effective date, the school must evaluate whether the renovation should include the incorporation of a secure vestibule system; require that all exterior doors and access-level windows in any attendance center that is constructed on or after the bill’s effective date be shatter resistant or intrusion resistant; require that, if any exterior doors or access-level windows in any attendance center need to be replaced or upgraded on or after the bill’s effective date, the replacement doors or access-level windows must be shatter resistant or intrusion resistant; require that all interior doors and windows in any attendance center that is constructed on or after the bill’s effective date be shatter resistant or intrusion resistant; require that, if any interior doors or windows in any attendance center need to be replaced or upgraded on or after the bill’s effective date, the replacement doors or windows must be shatter resistant or intrusion resistant; and install a video surveillance system in each attendance center that satisfies certain specified requirements. The bill allows schools to adopt policies and acquire equipment to ensure that all employees of the school are able to communicate with the school’s administrative office in emergency situations while the employee is in an instructional area located on school property or in an outdoor recreation area on school property. The bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules to administer these provisions.
   The bill requires schools to evaluate the potential use of shatter-resistant film or intrusion-resistant film in all attendance centers, including in all windows, windowed doors, and sidelights that are large enough for a person to enter or gain access to a locking mechanism.
   The bill requires DE to review and study the requirements associated with the high-quality emergency operations plans developed by school districts and accredited nonpublic schools pursuant to Code section 280.30. The bill establishes what DE is required to consider during the review and study. DE is required to submit its findings and recommendations to the general assembly on or before December 31, 2025.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of any state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under Code section 257.16. The specification is deemed to constitute state compliance with any state mandate funding-related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates included in the bill.