IL Senate committee approves school hazmat emergency preparedness bill

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A bill heading to the Illinois Senate floor could help schools be prepared for hazmat emergencies.

Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) speaks on the Illinois House floor during debate on a school emergency preparedness bill.

The proposal calls on the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security to work with the State Board of Education to develop guidance for local emergency responders and school districts.

Sponsors said the guidance will cover federal, state or local agencies responsible for identifying whether a chemical spill or explosion has occurred and how that information can be communicated to school personnel.

"We see this arising out of a chemical spill that happened in Ohio a couple years ago when the school district wasn't aware of what they should do in the event of a chemical spill," said Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore). "Do they keep the kids inside? Do they shut off the HVAC? Do they turn it on? Do they send them home?"

Senate Bill 71 passed unanimously out of the Senate Education Committee Tuesday night. It gained unanimous support in the House last week.