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H 7897School Safety

Education - Health and Safety of Pupils

Schools must create safety plans that ensure police and EMS have immediate physical access to buildings during emergencies.

Held for study
Population
Affected
72
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Education

Plain-English Summary

This bill mandates that all public and private schools, colleges, and universities in Rhode Island with 20 or more people must create and maintain a comprehensive school safety and emergency response plan starting July 1, 2026. A key requirement is that these institutions must provide law enforcement and emergency medical personnel with immediate, unobstructed access to all buildings and grounds during emergencies, using methods like key fobs or master keys. Plans must be submitted annually to the Department of Education and local police for review to ensure compliance and safety.

For younger readers

This new rule helps keep schools safe. It says that all schools and colleges must have a special plan for emergencies. A very important part of this plan is making sure that police officers and ambulance workers can get into the school buildings right away if something bad happens. The schools have to give the police a way to enter, like a special key or pass card. Schools must share this plan with the police every year to make sure it is good enough to keep everyone safe.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
StudentsSchool Staff and AdministratorsPolice DepartmentsEmergency Medical ServicesParents
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Enhances the safety and well-being of students and educators by ensuring that emergency responders can immediately access school facilities during critical incidents, potentially saving lives.
  • Standardizes safety protocols across both public and private institutions, ensuring that all students, regardless of whether they attend a wealthy private school or a public school, have equal access to emergency protections.
  • Facilitates rapid medical response for health emergencies, ensuring that EMS personnel are not delayed by locked doors when a student or staff member requires urgent medical care.
  • Increases police presence and authority within educational environments by mandating law enforcement review of school plans, which may contribute to concerns regarding the over-policing of schools.
  • Granting law enforcement permanent means of "immediate and unobstructed access" (like master keys) raises privacy concerns and the potential for misuse or unauthorized entry by police outside of actual emergencies.
  • Imposes unfunded mandates on under-resourced public schools to upgrade security systems (such as electronic entry), potentially diverting critical funds away from educational resources and social support services.
For Conservatives
  • Strengthens law and order by ensuring police have the necessary authority and physical tools to enter schools immediately to neutralize threats and protect children during active shooter situations or other crimes.
  • Prioritizes the physical security of students and staff, aligning with the fundamental government duty to protect citizens from violent crime and ensure safe environments for learning.
  • Imposes accountability on school administrators to cooperate with local law enforcement, preventing schools from adopting lax security measures that could endanger the community.
  • Expands government bureaucracy and regulation by imposing state mandates on private religious schools and independent institutions, infringing on their autonomy to manage their own property and security protocols.
  • Creates potential security vulnerabilities by aggregating master keys or electronic access codes for law enforcement, which, if compromised, could leave schools more vulnerable to bad actors.
  • Increases regulatory burdens on school administrators who must submit annual reports to multiple government agencies, distracting from their core educational mission.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 39 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 16-21-24.1. Emergency access provisions of school safety plans.

(a) On July 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, in addition to any applicable requirements of § 16-21-24, every public and private school, certified educational institution, college and university located within the state that employs or enrolls twenty (20) or more staff members and students in the aggregate, shall comply with the provisions of this section.

(b) Beginning July 1, 2026, every school and educational institution subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall develop, maintain and annually thereafter review and update a comprehensive school safety and emergency response plan. No later than August 1 of each calendar year, the plan shall be submitted to the department of education with a copy to the chief of police or the highest ranking officer of the local police department, and a copy to the director of public safety. (c)(1) Every comprehensive school safety and emergency response plan developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall include provisions ensuring immediate and unobstructed access to all of the school's or institution's facilities to include buildings, classrooms and grounds by law enforcement personnel and emergency medical personnel in responding to an emergency.

(2) The provisions of subsection (c)(1) of this section may be satisfied by adopting and implementing a plan that provides immediate access through secure electronic entry systems through use of key fobs, card access, manual key access or other means approved pursuant to the review required in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section. (d)(1) The chief of police or designee for every local police department, for every school and institution within the jurisdiction of the police department, shall annually review the plans submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. The chief of police may recommend to school or institution administrators any advisable changes or amendments to the plan. If the chief of police or chief's designee is satisfied with the provisions of the plan, the administrator of the school or institution shall be notified that the plan is approved. Approval of the plan or recommendations for changes or amendments shall be transmitted by the chief of police or designee to school or institution administrators no later than August 15, annually.

(2) For every school or institution that is not located within a municipality with a local police department, the plan shall be submitted to and reviewed by the director of public safety or the director's designee and the director or designee shall perform all the requirements of this section required of a local chief of police or designee.

(3) If any school or institution rejects or fails to implement any recommendation for changes or amendments provided to an administrator pursuant to this subsection, the local chief of police or designee shall notify the department of education of the rejection or noncompliance by September 1 or as soon thereafter as discovered.

(e) The department of education, after consultation with the director of public safety, shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement and enforce compliance with the provisions of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.