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Committee advances bill to standardize school emergency-response technology
Summary
The House Education Committee voted to report Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5,004 with a due-pass recommendation after adopting an amendment clarifying that emergency-response systems and education buildings must comply with state building codes; the bill also requires OSPI reporting on emergency response systems.
The House Education Committee on Thursday voted to report Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5,004 out of committee with a “do pass” recommendation by voice vote (18-0, 1 excused).
Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5,004 requires emergency-response systems used by school districts, charter schools and state tribal education compact schools to include specified technology and to be developed in collaboration with local partners; it also directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to report data to the Legislature on those systems, staff said.
The bill’s sponsor-filed amendment identified as MOET 4 38 was adopted. The amendment adds language that a system that complies with applicable state building-code requirements for education buildings or structures may be included in the statutory list of technologies and clarifies that compliance with building codes does not reduce the bill’s other requirements.
Ethan, staff member, summarized the bill for the committee: “Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5,004 requires emergency response systems of school districts, charter schools, and state tribal education compact schools to include specified technology and be developed in accordance with collaboration requirements. The bill also requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to report to the legislature data on emergency response systems.”
Representative Kallen, who moved the amendment, told colleagues the change honors existing district safety planning and state building-code requirements and “does not take anything away from the bill, but what it does do is provide further clarification and honor the work that school districts have currently done.” Representative Keaton urged members to oppose the amendment, saying current law provides sufficient flexibility, but the amendment passed and the bill moved forward.
Committee members who spoke in favor emphasized the need for faster notification systems that connect schools with law enforcement and medical response. The bill now heads to the next step in the House process with the committee’s due-pass recommendation.
Ending: The committee record shows the vote to report the bill as 18 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 excused; the committee incorporated the adopted amendment before reporting the bill.
