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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
emergency response; students with disabilities
Purpose
Requires the emergency response plan for each school in a school district to address how the school and emergency responders will communicate with and provide assistance to students with disabilities.
Background
A school district governing board (governing board), in conjunction with local law enforcement and response agencies, must develop an emergency response plan for each school in the school district in accordance with minimum standards developed by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs Division of Emergency Management. The standards include guidelines for an incident command system, emergency operations plan and plan maintenance, training and exercise (A.R.S. § 15-341; ADE). Federal executive departments and agencies must encourage the consideration and implementation of employees and individuals with disabilities served by state, local and tribal governments and private organizations and individuals in emergency preparedness planning (3 C.F.R. § 13347).
ADE provides resources to assist schools in developing emergency preparedness plans, including regional consortiums, continuity of operations planning tools and resources from federal and local agencies. The U.S. Department of Education's Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center provides an Integrating the Needs of Students and Staff with Disabilities and Other Access and Functional Needs training course (ADE; REMS).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires each emergency response plan developed by a governing board to address how a school and emergency responders will communicate with and provide assistance to students with disabilities.
2. Makes technical and conforming changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 6, 2023
LB/KT/slp