(a) Not later than October 1, 2013, each constituent unit of the state system of higher education and each independent institution of higher education, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10a-173, shall submit an up-to-date security protocol plan to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Such plan shall identify procedures specifically designed to heighten awareness by all faculty and staff regarding potentially at-risk students and other individuals on campus through effective educational strategies. Such procedures shall be designed to educate faculty and staff on how to recognize and respond to students and such other individuals who may be at risk of harm to themselves or others. Not later than July 1, 2015, and biennially thereafter, each constituent unit and independent institution of higher education shall review the security protocol plan with each of its chiefs of police or heads of campus security to determine whether such plan adequately addresses campus security concerns or requires revisions. In the event that revisions are required, the constituent unit or independent institution of higher education making revisions shall submit a revised security protocol plan to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection not later than August first of the year in which revisions are deemed necessary.

(b) Not later than January 1, 2014, each constituent unit and independent institution of higher education shall establish a trained threat assessment team for each of its campuses. The threat assessment team shall consist of individuals selected by the president of each state college, regional community-technical college or independent institution of higher education in consultation with its chief of police or head of campus security and may include not less than one member of its special police force or campus security personnel, administration, faculty and senior and mid-level staff. The chief of police or head of campus security at each state college, regional community-technical college and independent institution of higher education shall be responsible for ensuring that every member of the threat assessment team (1) is capable of executing the security protocol plan developed in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, and (2) receives comprehensive training in identifying potentially at-risk students, other potentially at-risk individuals on campus and any other potential threats to campus safety.

(P.A. 08-157, S. 1; P.A. 13-3, S. 92; 13-220, S. 22; P.A. 14-65, S. 11.)

History: P.A. 08-157 effective July 1, 2008; P.A. 13-3 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same by requiring submission of an up-to-date security protocol plan to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection by October 1, 2013, requiring biennial review of such plan with each constituent unit's and independent institution of higher education's chief of police or head of campus security and making technical changes, and added Subsec. (b) requiring establishment of a trained threat assessment team on each campus of each constituent unit and independent institution of higher education, effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 13-220 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective June 18, 2013; P.A. 14-65 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2014.