Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Develop Safety Standards for School Access
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0529
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: HARVELL, AYOTTE, SAVIELLO, BENNETT, CHASE, FREDETTE, PARRY, POULIOT, SANDERSON, SIROCKI

Legislative Document 
No. 529 
H.P. 348 
House of Representatives, February 19, 2013 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Develop Safety 
Standards for School Access 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative HARVELL of Farmington. 
Cosponsored by Representative AYOTTE of Caswell, Senator SAVIELLO of Franklin and 
Representatives: BENNETT of Kennebunk, CHASE of Wells, FREDETTE of Newport, 
McELWEE of Caribou, PARRY of Arundel, POULIOT of Augusta, SANDERSON of 
Chelsea, SIROCKI of Scarborough. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the safety and security of our school facilities, educators and students are 
a top priority in the State; and 
Whereas, recently in another jurisdiction the safety and security of school facilities, 
educators and students were tragically compromised; and 
Whereas, until outstanding safety and security issues are addressed, our school 
facilities, educators and students remain needlessly vulnerable; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1.  Department of Education to develop safety standards for school 
access.  Resolved:  That the Department of Education shall develop safety standards to 
make entryways in school buildings more secure, including, for new construction, the use 
of bullet-resistant glass and materials and safe rooms or enclosures for access points to 
school buildings and, for existing construction, the identification of ways to decrease the 
vulnerability of entryways and the reconfiguration of access points to school buildings; 
and be it further 
Sec. 2.   Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than January 1, 2014, the Department 
of Education shall submit a report that includes the safety standards required to be 
developed under section 1, including suggested legislation, and an estimate of the cost to 
implement these standards in new and old construction to the Joint Standing Committee 
on Education and Cultural Affairs. The Joint Standing Committee on Education and 
Cultural Affairs is authorized to introduce a bill related to the subject matter of the report 
to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Department of Education to develop safety standards for 
entryways in existing and new school construction and report these standards to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by January 1, 2014.