Resolve, Directing the Department of Education, Maine School Safety Center to Convene a Stakeholder Group to Develop Best Practices for Lockdown Drills and Allowing Parents to Opt Out of Lockdown Drills for Their Children
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0477
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: MILLETT, CARNEY, DODGE, DOUDERA, GRAMLICH, SACHS, ZAGER, INGWERSEN

Legislative Document
No. 477
H.P. 294
House of Representatives, February 7, 2023
Resolve, Directing the Department of Education, Maine School 
Safety Center to Convene a Stakeholder Group to Develop Best 
Practices for Lockdown Drills and Allowing Parents to Opt Out of 
Lockdown Drills for Their Children
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MILLETT of Cape Elizabeth.
Cosponsored by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland and
Representatives: DODGE of Belfast, DOUDERA of Camden, GRAMLICH of Old Orchard 
Beach, SACHS of Freeport, ZAGER of Portland, Senator: INGWERSEN of York.
Sec. 1.  Stakeholder group.  Resolved:  That the Department of Education, Maine 
School Safety Center shall convene a stakeholder group to develop best practices for 
lockdown drills implemented by school administrative units to minimize traumatic impact 
on students and school staff, including but not limited to representatives of:
1.  The Maine School Superintendents Association;
2.  The Maine School Boards Association;
3.  The Maine Principals' Association;
4.  The Maine Education Association;
5.  The Maine Chiefs of Police Association;
6.  The Maine State Parent Teacher Association;
7.  The Maine Parent Federation;
8.  The Maine School Counselor Association; and
9.  The American Academy of Pediatrics, Maine Chapter.
By January 1, 2024, the department shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs on the work of the stakeholder group, specifically regarding 
the best practices for lockdown drills and a plan for all school staff to be trained in their 
school administrative unit's emergency plan prior to January 1, 2025, but also including an 
evaluation of the effectiveness of the range of lockdown drills as implemented by public 
schools at increasing safety, the traumatic impact of lockdown drills on students and school 
staff, the number of school administrative units using best practices for lockdown drills and 
other strategies to ensure students and school staff are prepared to respond to emergencies, 
including school shootings.  The joint standing committee may report out a bill to the 
stakeholder group.
Sec. 2.  Rule amendment.  Resolved: That the Department of Education shall 
amend its rule Chapter 125: Basic Approval Standards: Public Schools and School 
Administrative Units, Section 5.17 to allow parents to opt out of lockdown drills for their 
child.  Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Department of Education, Maine School Safety Center to 
convene a stakeholder group to develop best practices for lockdown drills implemented by 
school administrative units to minimize traumatic impact on students and staff.  It requires 
the department to report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs 
on the work of the stakeholder group, specifically regarding the best practices for lockdown 
drills and a plan for all school staff to be trained in their school administrative unit's 
emergency plan prior to January 1, 2025, but also including an evaluation of the 
effectiveness of the range of lockdown drills as implemented by public schools at 
increasing safety, the traumatic impact of lockdown drills on students and school staff, the 
number of school administrative units using best practices for lockdown drills and other 
strategies to ensure students and school staff are prepared to respond to emergencies, 
including school shootings.  The joint standing committee is authorized to report out a bill 
to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature to implement the recommendations 
of the stakeholder group.
It also directs the department to adopt routine technical rules amending rule Chapter 
125: Basic Approval Standards: Public Schools and School Administrative Units, Section 
5.17 to allow parents to opt out of lockdown drills for their child.