BILL ANALYSIS SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION Gloria Romero, Chair 2009-2010 Regular Session BILL NO: AB 211 AUTHOR: Mendoza AMENDED: June 1, 2009 FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: July 1, 2009 URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Kathleen Chavira SUBJECT : Classroom Security Locks SUMMARY This bill requires as a condition for state education bond funds, beginning January 1, 2010, all new construction projects submitted to the Division of the State Architect to include locks that allow classrooms, or any room with occupancy of more than five persons to be locked from the inside, and exempts specified rooms from this requirement. BACKGROUND Proposition 1D, authorized by AB 127 (Nunez and Perata) and approved by the voters in November 2006, provided $7.3 billion for K-12 school facilities, $1.9 billion of which was earmarked for new construction projects. Approximately $500 million remains in new construction funds, as of May 31, 2009. The Division of the State Architect provides design and construction oversight for K-12 schools and community colleges, and develops and maintains accessibility standards and codes utilized in public and private buildings throughout the State of California. The DSA ensures that all plans, specifications, and actual construction comply with Title 24 (California Building Standards Code), develops and maintains accessibility standards pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, and reviews a school's working drawings to ensure that the proposed structures meet code requirements for seismic safety, fire & life safety, and accessibility. ANALYSIS AB 211 Page 2 This bill : 1) Requires as a condition for state education bond funds, beginning January 1, 2010, that all new construction projects submitted to the Division of the State Architect to include locks that allow classrooms and rooms with an occupancy of five persons or more to be locked from the inside. 2) Requires locks to conform to Title 24 California Code of Regulations specifications and requirements. 3) Exempts doors locked from the outside at all times and pupil restrooms from these requirements. STAFF COMMENTS 1) Intent of the author . According to the author, violent or potentially violent incidents on school campuses and in the immediate neighborhoods surrounding school campuses are increasing at an alarming rate. "Lockdowns," the temporary confinement of students and staff to classrooms, offices, and other rooms during or following a disturbance, have proven an effective tool to be used at school campuses to facilitate the safety of both students and staff during a violent or potentially violent situation. However, the locks in most school classrooms, offices and other rooms can only be locked from the outside, jeopardizing the safety of students and school staff as they enter hallways in an attempt to lock their doors. 2) California Building Standards Code . Title 24 regulations prohibit manually operated flush bolts or surface bolts on all exit doors except those in residential dwellings and for storage or equipment rooms. Additionally, the California Fire code specifies that "exit doors shall be openable from the inside without the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort. Exit doors shall not be locked, chained, bolted, barred, latched or otherwise rendered unusable. All locking devices shall be of an approved type." These provisions ensure that occupants are easily able to exit a building or classroom in a panic situation such as a fire or earthquake. AB 211 Page 3 3) One size fits all ? It is unknown to what extent existing schools have already arranged for inside locks. This bill would mandate that any new construction project by a school district anywhere in the state include locks on the inside of the room. Should this committee mandate the inclusion of these locks for all school district or should these specific types of school design issues be left to determination based upon the unique needs and desires of individual school communities? SUPPORT California School Boards Association OPPOSITION None received on this version.