AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SAFETY FEATURES IN NEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION OR MAJOR RENOVATIONS.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide information on enforcement or compliance checks, nor does it specify financial assistance or exemptions for schools unable to afford ballistic-resistant materials.

School Safety Improvements

The bill updates safety requirements for new school buildings or major renovations, clarifying that security film is different from ballistic-resistant materials and requiring schools to use the latter in specific areas.

What This Bill Does

• Clarifies that security film is not the same as ballistic-resistant materials.
• Requires schools to use ballistic-resistant materials in vestibules, lobbies, and offices when new buildings are built or major renovations happen.

Who It Names or Affects

• Schools that build new structures or do major repairs

Terms To Know

ballistic-resistant materials

Materials designed to stop bullets, used in school buildings for safety.

security film

A type of window film that can help prevent break-ins but is not bulletproof.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if schools cannot afford ballistic-resistant materials.
• It's unclear how this will affect existing school buildings without these safety features.
• There are no details on who will enforce or check that the new requirements are followed.

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SAFETY FEATURES IN NEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION OR MAJOR RENOVATIONS.
This Act clarifies that security film is distinct from ballistic-resistant materials, and adds that school construction will satisfy the requirements of § 2306(b) if ballistic-resistant materials are used in the required locations.
This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Current Bill Text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Walsh & Rep. K. Williams

Reps. Bolden, Harris

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 273

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SAFETY FEATURES IN NEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION OR MAJOR RENOVATIONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 2306, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 2306. Safety features in new school construction or major renovations [For applicability of this section, see 81 Del. Laws, c. 267, § 3].

(b) Whenever a new school is constructed or a major renovation undertaken, the construction or renovation must include, at a minimum, all of the following:

(1) Secured vestibule, which serves as the primary entrance to screen visitors, equipped with an intercom or video call box and interior doors that can be electronically released by school staff.

(2)

Ballistic

Ballistic-

resistant glass or

other ballistic-resistant material, or security

film in all secured vestibule, lobby, and office areas used to screen visitors.

(3) Classroom doors that can be locked from the outside using a key or magnetic card locking system. Classroom doors that can be locked from both sides must comply with the requirements under the current edition of the Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulations or the current edition of the National Fire Protection Association, Life Safety Code 101.

(4) Installation of a panic button or intruder alert system that is capable of being activated from the school office and a handheld device.

SYNOPSIS

This Act clarifies that security film is distinct from ballistic-resistant materials, and adds that school construction will satisfy the requirements of § 2306(b) if ballistic-resistant materials are used in the required locations.

This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Author: Senator Walsh