BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1076
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Date of Hearing: May 1, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 1076 (Olsen) - As Amended: April 15, 2013
Policy Committee: Education
Vote:7-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes school districts and county offices of
education (COEs) to equip the interior of each classroom,
cafeteria, theater, gym, and any other regularly used space in a
K-12 public school, except a parking lot, with a panic button
used to alert law enforcement in the event of a violent
incident, if federal funding becomes available for this purpose.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Declares a school district that complies with this measure and
maintains functionality of the panic button immune from
liability if the panic button fails to activate due to
circumstances beyond the district's control.
2)Defines a panic button as a device that alerts law enforcement
to arrive on scene, and that sends out a public alarm
throughout school when pressed.
FISCAL EFFECT
Federal fund cost pressure in the range of $30 million, to
school districts and COEs, to install panic buttons used to
alert law enforcement as specified. There are approximately
10,000 public schools in the state.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . According to the author, "While violence can happen
at any time, and it is impossible to entirely prevent all acts
of school violence, teachers and administrators should be
properly equipped with the most functional and accessible
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equipment to alert authorities and others in the event of an
emergency. We must take action to give schools the proper
resources to act when faced with violent situations."
2)Why not extend liability protections to COEs ? The bill
requires school districts who comply with this measure and
maintains functionality of the panic button to be immune from
liability if the panic button fails, as specified. COEs are
not afforded this immunity. The committee may wish to extend
the liability immunity to COEs.
3)2014 Federal school safety proposal . President Obama has
proposed a comprehensive plan, Now is the Time, to protect
schools and communities by reducing gun violence and providing
resources to schools. The President has proposed $112 million
in new funds to help prepare schools for emergencies, create
nurturing school climates, and provide support to students
exposed to violence. Of this amount, $30 million is
specifically earmarked to provide one-time grants to states to
help schools develop, implement, and improve emergency
management plans, to strengthen their capacity to prevent or
respond to emergencies and crisis events.
AB 1076 authorizes school districts and COEs to install panic
buttons in classrooms and other school buildings, if federal
funding becomes available for this purpose. At this time, it
is unclear whether the federal funding proposed by the
President is able to be used for this purpose. Also, there
may be other school safety needs a district or COE considers a
higher priority than the installation of panic buttons, as
specified.
4)Existing law requires each school district and COE to develop
a comprehensive school safety plan for all of its K-12
schools. The plan is required to include disaster procedures,
routine and emergency, including adaptations for pupils with
disabilities, as specified. The plan is required to be
evaluated once a year.
Analysis Prepared by : Kimberly Rodriguez / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 1076
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