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Cranston council backs bill to grant immediate school access to first responders
Summary
Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting state Senate Bill S.2280, which requires schools to maintain emergency-response plans providing first responders immediate access (electronic keys, fobs, or approved methods); sponsors said Cranston already largely meets the requirements.
On Feb. 17 the Cranston City Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting Senate Bill S.2280, legislation aimed at ensuring first responders have immediate access to school buildings during emergencies.
Councilman Ritz, a sponsor of the resolution, said S.2280 requires schools to maintain emergency-response plans that include immediate access for first responders and to review plans annually with local police chiefs. “When there's an emergency in a school, police officers should not be trying to figure out how to get through locked doors,” Ritz said.
Council Vice President Haroyan said Cranston’s police and school department already coordinate on electronic-access systems and that the local fiscal impact is expected to be minimal because electronic systems are already in place in district schools; the change would primarily require programming key fobs and formalizing annual reviews.
The council recorded a roll-call vote approving the resolution and said the measure signals city support as the bill proceeds through the state legislature.
