California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law legislation that prohibits the use of simulated gunfire in active shooter drills involving students.
The Safe and Prepared School Act will become law Jan. 1, 2025, the Contra Costa News reports.
In addition to prohibiting the use of simulated gunfire, it mandates a standardized week-of-parental notification that an event is to take place and day-of parental notification after the event has taken place.
Additionally, the law requires that the drills are age appropriate for the students experiencing them, a school-wide announcement that a drill is being conducted at the start of the drill, and following the drill access to local resources that can address potential issues raised by students and parents.
“The Safe and Prepared Schools Act will ensure that we are not doing more harm than good in training our students to be ready in the event of these unfortunate tragedies,” said Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego). “At the same time, school staff will have clear guidance on how to implement these drills in a responsible and professional way so we’re not creating more anxiety and traumatizing our students.”
