Bill
HD 1603
Requires MA public schools to provide at least one hour per school year of emergency preparedness instruction for students and staff, developed by DESE and MEMA.
Purpose and core idea
- The bill would add a new statutory requirement to educate Massachusetts public school students and staff about emergency preparedness. Specifically, it mandates the creation of a formal instructional awareness program on emergency preparedness, planning, and management.
- The program would cover a broad range of potential incidents, including weather events, natural disasters, viruses, and human-made disasters.
Key provisions
- Legislative change: Inserts a new Section 1R into Chapter 69 of the General Laws (after Section 1Q).
- Responsible entities: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in conjunction with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), would be responsible for creating the program.
- Program requirement: Schools must provide a minimum of one hour of instructional awareness per school year dedicated to emergency preparedness. The program is intended to educate both students and faculty.
- Scope of content: The program should address emergency preparedness, planning, and management related to a range of situations, including weather events, natural disasters, viruses, and human-made disasters.
- Content development: The bill assigns DESE and MEMA the duty to develop and implement the instructional material or framework.
Who is affected
- All public schools under the purview of DESE (i.e., K-12 schools in Massachusetts).
- Students and school faculty/staff who would participate in the annual one-hour program.
- State agencies involved in education and emergency management (DESE and MEMA) as the implementing bodies.
Implementation and timeline considerations
- No specific funding provisions are included in the text provided.
- No explicit effective date is stated within the excerpt; typical enactment would imply adoption and phased implementation following passage, with content developed by DESE and MEMA.
- The bill would require a curricular or programmatic adjustment to accommodate the annual one-hour requirement.
Background and context
- This proposal has a precedent in earlier sessions, with a similar measure previously filed as House Bill 735 in the 2023-2024 session.
- The bill is introduced by Representative Paul K. Frost (7th Worcester) and is listed as House Docket No. 1603 (House No. 883 in the 2025 filing). The status in the prompt does not specify passage or current committee action.
Notes for readers
- The bill focuses on creating a foundational, recurring annual education module rather than a one-time drill or standalone activity.
- If enacted, districts would likely need to integrate this hour into existing health, safety, or social studies programming and coordinate with DESE and MEMA for content and delivery.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
