Committee passes Student Safe at School Act with staff participation amendment; student opt-out amendment fails

Tamara Lawrence, the reviser, told the committee, "Senate Bill 2 63, would enact the Student Safe at School Act, which would establish standards and requirements for active shooter drills conducted by elementary and secondary schools and provide for certain violence prevention training." The committee considered two amendments before advancing the bill.

Senator Thomas offered a technical amendment to allow teachers and school personnel an opt-in or opt-out mechanism consistent with testimony from the KEA; after explanation and a motion to adopt the amendment, the committee approved it by voice vote. Senator Thomas moved the amendment and said, "I move my amendment." The amendment was seconded by Senator Sykes and passed.

A subsequent amendment intended to allow students themselves to opt out of participation even when a drill meets the statutory standards was debated at length. Tamara Lawrence clarified existing language: parents could already opt a student out under subsection C, and paragraph 2 provides that a student would not be required to participate if the drill did not meet the standards. Lawrence explained that the proposed amendment would allow a student to decline participation even if the drill conformed to the standards without a prior parental opt-out.

Senators raised logistical and equity concerns. Senator Gossage said she opposed the amendment because parents should be aware and provide opt-out instructions in advance. Senator Petty and others questioned whether notice requirements (at least 24 hours prior, or within 24 hours after if prior notice was not given) would allow students to decline after-the-fact. After debate the student opt-out amendment failed on a voice vote. Senator Thomas then moved that the committee pass Senate Bill 2 63 as amended; the motion was seconded by Senator Murphy and carried by voice vote.