18A:41-7 Provision of training on school safety, security.

2. a. A local board of education and chief school administrator of a nonpublic school shall ensure that all full-time employees in the district or nonpublic school are provided with training on school safety and security that includes instruction on school security drills. The training shall use the drill guide and training materials prepared pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2009, c.178 (C.App.A:9-86) and shall utilize various formats such as drills, functional exercises, and tabletop exercises. The annual training provided to employees shall be conducted collaboratively by the district or nonpublic school and emergency responders, including law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services personnel, in order to identify weaknesses in school safety and security policies and procedures and to increase the effectiveness of emergency responders.

b. A local board of education and chief school administrator of a nonpublic school shall ensure that individuals employed in the school district or nonpublic school in a substitute capacity are provided with information and training on the district's or nonpublic school's practices and procedures on school safety and security including instruction on school security drills, evacuation procedures, and emergency response protocols in the school district or nonpublic school and the school building where the individuals are employed. In the event that an individual is employed in a substitute capacity in the district or nonpublic school at the time the school safety and security training is being provided to full-time employees pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the district or nonpublic school shall include the individual in the training.

c. A local board of education and chief school administrator of a nonpublic school shall provide to all persons who supervise youth programs that are not sponsored by the school district or nonpublic school, but operate a program in a district or nonpublic school building before or after school hours, on the weekend, or during a period when school is not in session, information on school district or nonpublic school practices and procedures in the event of a school safety or security incident at a school including non-confidential information on evacuation procedures, emergency response protocols, and emergency contact information. It shall be the responsibility of the organization that sponsors the youth program to train the program's employees and volunteers on the school security and emergency procedures in effect in the school building in which the youth program is located. The organization that sponsors the youth program shall file a statement of assurance with the school district superintendent or chief school administrator of the nonpublic school that it has complied with the training requirements prior to the district or nonpublic school authorizing the use of the school building. The statement of assurance shall be developed by the Commissioner of Education and shall be filed with the school district or nonpublic school on an annual basis.

L.2009, c.178, s.2; amended 2016, c.80, s.3; 2019, c.480.