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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="7-1509" title_number="7" title_name="Public Schools" subtitle_number="15" subtitle_name="Maryland Safe to Learn Act">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department, in consultation with the Subcabinet, may adopt regulations to incorporate in the annual schedule of drills for each local school system developmentally and age–appropriate components of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Active Shooter Preparedness Program developed by the Department of Homeland Security or guidelines; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The active shooter guidelines adopted by the Maryland Active Assailant Work Group established under Executive Order 01.01.2018.08.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Items incorporated into the annual schedule of drills in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection may take the form of a training rather than a drill.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Drills or trainings incorporated into the annual schedule of drills under subsection (a) of this section shall be developmentally and age–appropriate, and may include procedures for students or school personnel in:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Securing classrooms;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Barricading classrooms and school entries;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Taking refuge in the classroom; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>When appropriate, escape from the classroom or school.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Before the 2025–2026 school year, and before each school year thereafter, the Department shall review the best practices for active shooter safety drills or trainings identified by the Center in accordance with § 7–1502(g) of this subtitle and update any drills and trainings that have been incorporated into the annual schedule of drills under subsection (a) of this section to reflect those best practices.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except for a voluntary drill or training occurring after school hours, active shooter safety drills or trainings may not include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Loud sounds intended to imitate gunfire or explosions;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Live exercises with individuals role–playing as an active shooter or a victim; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Similar activities that may cause the drill or training to be traumatic for students or school personnel.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a concern is raised that a component of a drill or training best practice identified under subsection (c) of this section is contrary to the intent of the trauma–sensitive requirements under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Center, after consultation with the Department, shall make the final determination as to whether the component complies with the requirements under paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Department shall notify the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Legislative Policy Committee of proposed changes to regulations that alter the annual schedule of drills as provided under this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Each local school system shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Collaborate with the local law enforcement agency to establish policies for responding to an emergency at each public school in the county;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Provide parents with the annual schedule of active shooter safety drills or trainings at the beginning of the school year, which includes:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The month in which the drills or trainings will occur;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The type of drill or training that will occur; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>How students will be notified of the drill or training;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Announce drills or trainings in advance to students and school personnel;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Notify parents after a drill or training has taken place;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Provide a mental health follow–up for students and school personnel after a drill or training;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Identify students or school personnel who may require additional support during and after a drill or training, including an individual:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>With a disability; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Who has experienced trauma; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Provide additional resources and coping strategies for individuals who require additional support during and after a drill or training; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Collect data on the effectiveness and psychological impact of the drills or trainings, including requesting feedback from school personnel, parents, and students, in a manner and format approved by the Center to allow for the required analysis under § 7–1502(g)(22) of this subtitle; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Report the data and findings to the Center.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>On or before July 1, 2025, the Center shall develop model content that informs parents of the State’s firearm storage laws.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Each year, the Center shall evaluate the model content and update it as needed.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Center shall consult with the Department of State Police in developing the model content.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>At the beginning of each school year, each local school system shall distribute the model content to the parents.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
