SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Two new Illinois laws will help improve safety precautions for different types of emergency response. Both plans received unanimous support as Democrats and Republicans work to keep students and educators safe.
Senate Bill 2057 requires the Illinois State Board of Education to provide school districts with standards for threat assessment procedures. The law allows ISBE and the State Fire Marshal to create new rules that guide public schools, private schools and first responders on how to develop threat assessment procedures and rapid entry response plans.
This comes as several schools received shooting threats following the mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia that left four people dead in September.
"The way they handled it was very professional," said Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort). "However, it caused a lot of discussion in our district as to how school districts handle these from a local and state standpoint."
The legislation also gives guidance for districts notifying parents and the community of threats made against a school.
A separate law will help schools better prepare for hazmat emergencies. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security will work with ISBE to develop guidance for local emergency responders and school districts.Â
Sponsors said the guidance will cover federal, state, or local agencies responsible for identifying whether a spill or explosion has occurred and how that information can be communicated to school staff. Senate Bill 71 also requires school evacuation plans and a list of available training programs.
"We see this arising out of a chemical spill that happened in Ohio a couple years ago where 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?"
Each school district will be required to develop procedures for its schools to address hazardous emergencies based on the statewide guidance.
Senate Bill 2057 took effect earlier this month, but Senate Bill 71 will take effect on Jan. 1.
