1Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2act relating to the public school system, including certain
3provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5laws relating thereto," in safe schools, further providing
6for the Office of Safe Schools; and providing for school
7safety requirements.

8The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9hereby enacts as follows:

10Section 1. Section 1302-A(d)(2) of the act of March 10, 1949
11(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
12amended July 9, 2014 (P.L.1039, No.122), is amended to read:

13Section 1302-A. Office for Safe Schools.--* * *

14(d) The office shall have the following duties as to
15targeted grants:

16* * *

17(2) The office shall:

18(i) Give priority in grant funding under subsection (c) to a 
19school entity designated as a persistently dangerous school as 
20defined in 22 Pa. Code § 403.2 (relating to definitions).

1(i.1) Give priority in grant funding under subsection (c) to
2school entities located more than fifteen (15) minutes from the
3nearest law enforcement agency.

4(ii) Give priority in grant funding under subsection (c) to
5school entities with the greatest need to establish safety and
6order.

7(iii) To the greatest extent possible, ensure that grant
8funding is geographically dispersed to school entities and
9municipalities throughout this Commonwealth.

10(iv) For school entities, municipalities, local law 
11enforcement agencies and nonpublic schools that apply for
12funding for the training and compensation of school resource
13officers and school police officers under subsection (c.1), give
14priority to school entities, municipalities, local law 
15enforcement agencies and nonpublic schools that utilize school
16resource officers or school police officers who have completed
17additional training recommended by the Department of Education
18relating to interaction with all children and adolescents within
19a school setting.

20(v) For school entities or nonpublic schools that apply for
21funding for school police officers under subsection (c.1), give
22priority to school entities and nonpublic schools that utilize
23school police officers who satisfy all of the following:

24(A) Are retired Federal agents or retired State, municipal
25or military police officers.

26(B) Are independent contractors of the school entity or 
27nonpublic school.

28(C) Are compensated on an hourly basis and receive no other
29compensation or fringe benefits from the school entity or 
30nonpublic school.

1(D) Have completed such annual training as shall be required
2by the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training
3Commission pursuant to 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 Subch. D (relating to
4municipal police education and training).

5(E) Are in satisfaction of the requirements of section 111.

6(F) In the case of a school entity, have been indemnified by
7the school entity pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 8548 (relating to
8indemnity).

9(G) Are utilized by a school entity or nonpublic school that
10has not employed a school police officer within the three years
11immediately preceding the effective date of this clause.

12Nothing in this clause shall be construed to impact on grant
13decisions for school entities, municipalities or local law 
14enforcement agencies that apply for funding for hiring of school
15resource officers pursuant to subsection (c.1).

16* * *

17Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:

18Section 1302.2-A. School Safety Requirements.--(a) Each
19school entity shall undergo an annual safety assessment audit to
20determine whether it is in compliance with the school entity's
21safety plan and the provisions of this chapter. The safety
22assessment audit shall be conducted by the Pennsylvania State
23Police or municipal police department that has jurisdiction over
24the school entity and shall include building security, emergency
25plans, access control and physical infrastructure.

26(b) Each school entity shall have a school safety plan that
27addresses violence prevention, crisis intervention, emergency
28response and management, including communications within the
29school entity and with law enforcement and other emergency
30responders. The plan shall be both district-wide and building

1specific and shall in part include the memorandum of
2understanding described in section 1302-A(b)(6) and the disaster
3response and emergency preparedness plan as required by 35
4Pa.C.S. § 7701(g) (relating to duties concerning disaster
5prevention).

6(c) Each school entity shall provide the Pennsylvania State
7Police or municipal police department that has jurisdiction over
8the school entity with current blueprints for each building of
9the school entity.

10(d) Each school entity shall have a threat assessment and
11crisis response team to evaluate information about threats of
12school violence and employ the results of the evaluations in
13developing strategies to prevent potential school attacks. A
14planning team, consisting of school administrators, law
15enforcement and mental health agencies shall design a threat
16assessment process for the school entity.

17(e) Each school entity at least annually shall conduct a
18safety drill that addresses risks, including active threats,
19terrorism, explosives and other scenarios that allow students,
20teachers and administrative staff to be prepared to respond to
21threats as they evolve. The safety drill shall be in addition to
22the fire and emergency evacuation drills required by section
231517. The school entity shall coordinate the safety drill with
24law enforcement and other emergency responders.

25(f) Each school entity shall certify compliance with this
26section as part of the report submitted to the department under
27section 1303-A(b).

28Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.