February 13, 2025
Mr. Moskowitz (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To enhance the safety of elementary and secondary schools by requiring emergency response and parental notification procedures and improving the security of interior and exterior doors, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Measures for Safer School Districts Act
or the MSD Act
.
Sec. 2. Emergency response and parental notification procedures
Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
H Emergency response and parental notification procedures
8701. Emergency response and parental notification procedures
(a) Policies and notification required
As a condition of receiving funds under this Act, each local educational agency shall—
(1)
develop and implement emergency response procedures covering all students, faculty, and staff at public elementary and secondary schools under the jurisdiction of the agency; and
(2)
pursuant to such procedures, ensure that parents and guardians receive timely notification of covered threats and emergencies that occur on school grounds, during school transportation, or during school-sponsored activities.
(b) Additional requirements
The emergency response and notification procedures developed under subsection (a) shall meet the following criteria:
(1)
The procedures shall be developed in consultation with appropriate public safety agencies.
(2)
Commonly used alarm system responses for specific types of emergencies shall be implemented.
(3)
The procedures shall identify—
(A)
the primary emergency response agency that is responsible for each type of covered threat or emergency; and
(B)
the individuals within each school who are responsible for contacting the primary emergency response agency in the event of such a threat or emergency.
(c) Covered threats and emergencies defined
In this section, the term covered threats and emergencies means—
(1)
weapons possession or use when there is intended harm toward another person;
(2)
active shooter or hostage situations;
(3)
bomb threats;
(4)
murder, homicide, or manslaughter;
(5)
sex offenses, including rape, sexual assault, or sexual misconduct involving a student and school personnel;
(6)
trespassing;
(7)
fires;
(8)
natural weather emergencies, including hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe storms;
(9)
natural disasters;
(10)
exposure to harmful substances or conditions as a result of a manmade emergency; and
(11)
such other threats and emergencies as a local educational agency determines appropriate to address through the procedures required under subsection (a).
Sec. 3. Installation or modification of interior and exterior doors in schools
(a) In general
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall convene a rulemaking advisory committee to review and develop findings and recommendations to require the installation or modification of interior and exterior doors in any elementary or secondary school in the United States which receives Federal funding.
(b) Membership
The Director of CISA shall chair and, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, appoint the members of the rulemaking committee under subsection (a), which shall be comprised of the Secretary of Education (or his or her designee) and at least one representative from the constituencies of—
(1)
State and local law enforcement officers;
(2)
school safety personnel or school resource officers;
(3)
school safety advocates, which may include parents;
(4)
public, private, or parochial school teachers or administrators;
(5)
individuals with expertise in the area of ballistic shielding technology;
(6)
individuals with expertise in the field of school construction, including structural engineering or architecture; and
(7)
other stakeholders or experts the Director of CISA, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, determines appropriate.
(c) Considerations
The rulemaking advisory committee under subsection (a) shall consider the following:
(1)
Requirements for any reinforced door, including an identification or specification of appropriate technologies, mechanisms, covers, adhesives, or other qualities of such doors that may be utilized to better guarantee security within a classroom or elementary or secondary school building.
(2)
Reinforced door performance standards that manufacturers and elementary or secondary schools are required to satisfy.
(3)
The development, certification, testing, manufacturing, installation, and training relating to reinforced doors.
(4)
The appropriate term of service or lifetime of a reinforced door.
(5)
How requirements will ensure the effectiveness of a reinforced door in protecting against threats while not inhibiting the movement of law enforcement personnel in pursuit of a threat or the ability of students, teachers, and elementary or secondary school personnel to safely evacuate in the event of an emergency.
(6)
Other considerations the Director of CISA determines appropriate.
(d) Report to Congress
Not later than one year after the convening of the rulemaking advisory committee under subsection (a), the Director of CISA shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Heath, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report based on the findings and recommendations of such committee.
(e) Final rule relating to installation or modification of interior and exterior doors in schools
Not later than six months after the date of submission of the report required under subsection (d), the Director of CISA, taking into consideration the findings and recommendations contained in such report, shall issue a final rule requiring the installation or modification of interior and exterior doors in elementary or secondary schools for the purpose of reinforcing such doors.
(f) State Homeland Security Grant Program
This section shall be administered under the authorization of the Homeland Security Grant Program under section 2004 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 605). There is authorized to be appropriated to such Program to carry out this section an additional $100,000,000 for the fiscal year in which the final rule is issued in accordance with subsection (e) and for each of the nine fiscal years thereafter. Such additional amounts may only be obligated and expended for the purpose of carrying out this section.