2014 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 16 - Education
Chapter 16-21 - Health and Safety of Pupils
Section 16-21-23 - School safety teams, school crisis response teams, and school safety assessments.

§ 16-21-23 School safety teams, school crisis response teams, and school safety assessments. – (a) Each school district of each town, city, and regional school department shall conduct a school safety assessment in conjunction with local police, fire, school safety team pursuant to the provisions of this § 16-21-23 and any other expert said school department deems necessary. The assessment shall examine the current status of each school building's safety and shall be performed within thirty (30) days of passage of this act, and every three (3) years thereafter. Assessments performed within a year of the date of passage of this act shall satisfy this requirement. All meetings regarding the school safety assessment are not subject to the open meetings law pursuant to chapter 46 of title 42, and documents produced including, but not limited to, meeting minutes and the school safety assessment are not subject to the access to public records law pursuant to chapter 2 of title 38.

(b) The school committee of each town, city, and regional school department shall review and adopt in executive session a comprehensive school safety plan regarding crisis intervention, emergency response, and management. The plan shall be developed by a school safety team comprised of representatives of the school committee, representatives of student, teacher, and parent organizations, school safety personnel, school administration, and members of local law enforcement, fire, and emergency personnel. Members of the school safety team shall be appointed by the school committee and/or school superintendent of the town, city, or regional school district. In creating the school safety plan, the school safety team(s) shall consult the model school safety plan developed by the department of elementary and secondary education pursuant to § 16-21-23.1.

(c) The school crisis response team shall be comprised of those selected school personnel willing to serve as members of a psychological response team to address the psychological and emotional needs of the school community, and may seek mental health resources from the department of elementary and secondary education. Members of the school crisis response team may coordinate mental health services for those students and school employees affected by acts of violence in the schools, using resources available through the department of elementary and secondary education.

History of Section.
(P.L. 2001, ch. 151, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 151, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 211, § 1.)