HB42 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Pebblin W. WarrenRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to public K-12 education; to amend Section 16-1-44, Code of Alabama 1975, providing for comprehensive school emergency operations plans; to require the participation of school resource officers and law enforcement agencies in regularly scheduled lockdown drills; and to designate the days on which lockdown drills are conducted as school safety and awareness days.

Summary

HB42 would require local boards of education to adopt comprehensive school emergency operation plans that include regular lockdown drills with participation from school resource officers and law enforcement, and to designate the days drills are held as School Safety and Awareness Days.

What This Bill Does

It requires each local board to develop and adopt an emergency operations plan for every school, with involvement from law enforcement, fire, and emergency management. The plan must include protocols for threats and emergencies, notification procedures, and reporting to parents. It defines four alert levels and required actions for each, and it requires regular drills, annual staff training (including mental health awareness), and ongoing plan updates. It also mandates access for law enforcement to schools, designates school safety days, and provides for disciplinary action if principals fail to comply.

Who It Affects

• Students, teachers, and school staff who will operate under standardized safety procedures, drills, and training.
• Law enforcement agencies, school resource officers, fire and emergency management personnel who participate in planning, drills, and response activities at schools.

Key Provisions

• Local boards must develop and adopt a comprehensive school emergency operations plan for each school, involving community law enforcement and safety officials, including fire and emergency management assigned to the school.
• Plans must include protocols for addressing threats and emergencies, including notification procedures and informing parents of affected students.
• Plans must include four alert levels (Heightened Awareness, Secure Your Area, Secure Perimeter, Lockdown) with defined actions and notification procedures for each level.
• Plans must be updated when major building changes occur and reviewed annually; copies must be kept securely and provided to law enforcement on request.
• Principals must train students on emergency procedures, ensure drills meet requirements, allow immediate egress, and conduct drills across safety, security, severe weather, fire, and lockdown.
• School resource officers and safety personnel must participate in regularly scheduled lockdown drills; a school safety and awareness day will be designated when drills are conducted; annual staff training includes mental health awareness.
• If a principal neglects or refuses to comply, appropriate disciplinary action is allowed.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

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