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MSD Act
3/14/2025, 11:56 AM
Summary of Bill HR 1335
Firstly, the bill requires schools to establish and implement emergency response procedures to ensure a quick and effective response to any potential threats or emergencies. This includes conducting regular drills and training for students, teachers, and staff members on how to respond in emergency situations. Additionally, the bill mandates that schools must have a system in place for notifying parents or guardians in the event of an emergency.
Secondly, the bill addresses the security of interior and exterior doors in schools. It requires schools to assess the security of their doors and make necessary improvements to prevent unauthorized access to school buildings. This may include installing locks, alarms, or other security measures to enhance the safety of students and staff. Overall, the School Safety Enhancement Act aims to create a safer learning environment for students by implementing effective emergency response procedures and improving the security of school buildings. By prioritizing the safety of students and staff, this bill seeks to prevent and respond to potential threats in schools across the country.
Congressional Summary of HR 1335
Measures for Safer School Districts Act or the MSD Act
This bill requires each local educational agency (LEA), as a condition of receiving federal elementary and secondary education funds, to establish procedures for responding to school emergencies and for timely notifying parents of school emergencies. It also requires interior and exterior doors in schools to be reinforced.
Specifically, the bill requires each LEA to (1) develop and implement emergency response procedures covering all students, faculty, and staff at public schools under the jurisdiction of the LEA; and (2) ensure that parents and guardians receive timely notification of covered threats and emergencies (e.g., active shooter situations, bomb threats, and natural disasters) that occur on school grounds, during school transportation, or during school-sponsored activities. These emergency response procedures must meet specified criteria, including by requiring commonly used alarm system responses for specific types of emergencies.
Additionally, the bill requires the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to convene a rulemaking advisory committee to review and develop findings and recommendations to require the installation or modification of interior and exterior doors in any school that receives federal funding. Further, CISA must (1) submit a report to Congress on the advisory committee's findings and recommendations, and (2) issue a final rule that requires the installation or modification of interior and exterior doors in schools to reinforce such doors.
The bill authorizes the use of grants under the Homeland Security Grant Program to carry out the bill's provisions.
Read the Full Bill
Current Status of Bill HR 1335
Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 1335
Total Number of Sponsors
6Democrat Sponsors
6Republican Sponsors
0Unaffiliated Sponsors
0Total Number of Cosponsors
2Democrat Cosponsors
1Republican Cosponsors
1Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 1335
Primary Policy Focus
EducationAlternate Title(s) of Bill HR 1335
Comments
Kora Forbes
9 months ago
This bill is a waste of time and money. It's not going to do anything to actually address the root causes of violence in schools. Instead of focusing on band-aid solutions like improving door security, we should be investing in mental health resources and addressing the systemic issues that lead to violence in the first place. This bill is just a distraction from the real issues at hand.
