HB0343 | School Emergency Drills Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill makes changes to emergency evacuation drill requirements for certain educational facilities during the 2021-2022 school year.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill requires the State Board of Education to, for a portion of the 2021-2022 school year, make rules for:
• conducting monthly emergency evacuation drills; and
• providing age-appropriate emergency evacuation instruction in lieu of
conducting emergency evacuation drills; and requires Group E occupancies
to conduct monthly emergency evacuation drills for
the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year;

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 05, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 37
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill is a follow-up bill to 2020 HB 6004. It allows schools to substitute other types of instruction for the monthly mandatory drills

Commission: 
Safety
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations work with Utah schools to educate and train students, parents, staff and first responders on their school’s emergency preparedness and response plan by facilitating drills and exercises including evacuation, lockdown, shelter-in place and reunification;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
COMMITMENT: We are dedicated to children’s educational success, health, and well-being through strong family and community engagement, while remaining accountable to the principles upon which our association was founded.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

5. Support measures to promote safe and healthy environments and behaviors for children to prevent suicide, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking,