Legislature OKs bill to require school lockdown drills

The Oregon Senate joined the House Tuesday in unanimously backing legislation to require that schools conduct instruction and drills on safety threats including lockdowns, lockouts, “shelter in place” — and on the coast, tsunamis.

State Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, carried the school safety bill, HB 2661-A, on the Senate floor.

In the Senate Committee on Education, Rep. Betty Komp (D-Woodburn) submitted testimony in support of HB 2661-A.

“As the situation now stands, schools are not required to practice safety lock-down drills. While they are preparing for emergencies such as a fire or a tsunami, they are not prepared to lock down when there is a threat to safety,” said Komp.

Moreover, Knopp noted HB 2661-A allows a governing body of a public body to hold an executive session to consider matters relating to school safety or a plan that responds to safety threats made toward a school – thus allowing for private consideration of certain information that could impact students’ safety.

Knopp added, “This bill expands drill and instruction to include students up to grade 12. This addresses high schools in the state that reportedly do not practice lockdown or other safety drills, despite high incidences of safety threats in higher grades.”

HB 2661-A brings school safety standards up to date with the current threats Oregon schools face, Knopp said. While many schools practice certain safety drills, this bill requires them to drill on the most relevant threats, requiring safety measures like school lockdowns.

HB 2661-A passed both the House and the Senate without opposition and will be heading to the governor’s desk to be signed in the coming weeks.