Bill
LB 517
LB517 expands the state security director's duties to set standards and require inspections of door assemblies in all public schools, with district data collection.
LB517 — Summary of Major Provisions
Overview
- Bill number: LB517
- Title: Provide requirements for the state school security director regarding protective door assemblies and other school entry systems
- Introduced: January 21, 2025
- Hearing: February 18, 2025 (Education Committee)
- Prime sponsor: Senator Margo Juarez
- Current status: Notice of hearing scheduled
Purpose and intent
- LB517 seeks to clarify and expand the duties of the state school security director and, indirectly, school districts, by formalizing standards and inspection information related to protective door assemblies and related entry systems in public schools.
- The bill would amend the statutory framework governing school safety and security in Nebraska to emphasize inspection data collection and the establishment of protective door assembly standards.
Key provisions (highlights)
- Section amended: 79-2,144, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska
- State school security director duties (expanded scope):
- Collect safety and security plans and a broad set of security information from each school district, including:
- Annual inspection information of protective door assemblies
- Door-locking systems
- Double-entry doors of school buildings
- Any other security information requested by the director
- Note: Certain plans or information may be withheld by the Department per existing provisions
- Recommend minimum standards for school security (existing duty; reaffirmed)
- Conduct assessments of security for each public school building
- Establish standards related to protective door assemblies in every school building used for instruction
- Ensure annual inspections of protective door assemblies are conducted by an inspector with appropriate training, and that school boards schedule such inspections
- Identify deficiencies based on adopted standards and propose remedies to school boards
- Develop security awareness, training programs, and instructional materials
- Oversee behavioral/mental health training, with a focus on suicide awareness and prevention
- Establish tornado preparedness standards (e.g., drills)
- Respond to security inquiries from non-public (private, denominational, parochial) schools
- Recommend curricular/extracurricular materials on cyberbullying and digital citizenship
- Carry out responsibilities under the School Safety and Security Reporting System Act
- Definition of protective door assemblies:
- Doors with panic hardware or fire exit hardware
- Door assemblies in exit enclosures
- Electronically controlled egress doors
- Sensor-released egress doors
- Elevator-lobby doors
- Repeal/creating effect:
- The original section 79-2,144 is repealed and replaced with updated text reflecting the expanded duties and definitions
Who is affected
- State level:
- State school security director (expanded responsibilities and data collection requirements)
- Local level:
- School districts’ security directors/managers, who must cooperate by providing requested information, and by ensuring proper inspection and adherence to standards
- Schools:
- Public schools (K-12) subject to standardized inspection, reporting, and security upgrade expectations
- Potential impact on procurement/maintenance of protective door assemblies and related hardware
Timelines and process considerations
- Legislative action: Introduced January 21, 2025; scheduled for a hearing February 18, 2025
- Implementation timeline: The bill references ongoing standards and required inspections, including annual inspections of protective door assemblies, with standards to be established and maintained by the state school security director
- Data collection: Requires ongoing collection of protection-door and security-system information from school districts, subject to applicable confidentiality and withholding provisions
Notes
- The bill consolidates and formalizes the process for inspecting protective door assemblies and for maintaining uniform security standards across districts.
- It integrates these standards with broader school safety duties, including training, mental health focus, and emergency preparedness.
This summary focuses on the substantive changes LB517 would introduce, and who would be affected by its enactment.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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