HB97 Alabama 2021 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: TaShina MorrisRepresentative
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2021
Title: School safety, to require mental health awareness to be included in the annual training session for employees of each K-12 school, Sec. 16-1-44 am'd.
Summary: HB97 requires mental health awareness to be included in the annual safety training for all public K-12 school employees.
What This Bill Does
It amends the school safety rules to require annual mental health awareness in the training for school staff. It creates four emergency alert levels with defined actions and notification steps, and requires schools to update and annually review their comprehensive emergency operations plan. It also requires annual lockdown drills during the first six weeks of fall and spring, and makes failure to comply subject to disciplinary action for principals or designees. The act allows law enforcement and fire officials to access the plan and directs coordination with safety authorities.

Who It Affects
Public K-12 school employees (teachers, staff, and administrators) who must receive the annual mental health awareness training as part of safety drills and procedures.
Local boards of education and school administrators who must develop, update, and enforce the comprehensive school emergency operations plan, and coordinate with law enforcement and fire departments.

Key Provisions
Mental health awareness must be included in the annual training session for all public K-12 school employees.
The plan must include four alert levels (Heightened Awareness, Secure Your Area of Responsibility, Secure Perimeter, Lockdown) with procedures and notification steps.
The local board must update the emergency operations plan for major building changes and review it annually; copies may be requested by law enforcement or safety officials and must be kept secure.
Principals must conduct safety drills and provide annual training for employees on lockdown procedures; doors may be lockable from outside but must allow immediate egress.
An immediate threat can trigger a lockdown alert; annual lockdown drills must be held in fall and spring; mental health awareness must be included in the annual training.
Disciplinary action can be taken against principals or designees who knowingly neglect or refuse to comply.
Effective date is August 1, 2021.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Public Schools