APPROVED CHAPTER
JULY 27, 2023 115
BY GOVERNOR RESOLVES
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE
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H.P. 294 - L.D. 477
Resolve, Directing the Department of Education, Maine School Safety Center
to Convene a Stakeholder Group to Develop Best Practices for Lockdown
Drills and Active Shooter Drills and Allowing Parents to Opt Out of Active
Shooter Drills for Their Children
Sec. 1. Stakeholder group. Resolved: That the Department of Education, Maine
School Safety Center shall convene a stakeholder group to develop best practices for
lockdown drills and active shooter drills implemented by school administrative units to
minimize traumatic impact on students and school staff, including but not limited to
representatives of:
1. The Maine School Superintendents Association;
2. The Maine School Boards Association;
3. The Maine Principals' Association;
4. The Maine Education Association;
5. The Maine Chiefs of Police Association;
6. The Maine State Parent Teacher Association;
7. The Maine Parent Federation;
8. The Maine School Counselor Association; and
9. The American Academy of Pediatrics, Maine Chapter.
By January 1, 2025, the department shall report to the joint standing committee of the
Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs on the work of the
stakeholder group, specifically regarding the best practices for lockdown drills and active
shooter drills and a plan for all school staff to be trained in their school administrative unit's
emergency plan prior to January 1, 2026, but also including an evaluation of the
effectiveness of the range of lockdown drills and active shooter drills as implemented by
public schools at increasing safety, the traumatic impact of lockdown drills and active
shooter drills on students and school staff, the number of school administrative units using
best practices for lockdown drills and active shooter drills and other strategies to ensure
students and school staff are prepared to respond to emergencies, including school
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shootings. The joint standing committee may report out a bill to the 132nd Legislature in
2025 to implement the recommendations of the stakeholder group.
Sec. 2. Rule amendment. Resolved: That the Department of Education shall
amend its rule Chapter 125: Basic Approval Standards: Public Schools and School
Administrative Units, Section 5.17 to allow parents to opt out of active shooter drills for
their children. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined
in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following
appropriations and allocations are made.
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Maine School Safety Center Z293
Initiative: Provides one-time funds for staffing and other related costs to support the work
of the stakeholder group established to develop best practices for lockdown drills and active
shooter drills implemented by school administrative units to minimize traumatic impact on
students and school staff.
GENERAL FUND 2023-24 2024-25
All Other $0 $5,000
__________ __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $5,000
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