Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §1001, sub-§§17 and 18 are enacted to read:

17.__School bomb threat response policies.__Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, each school board in the State must have adopted a school bomb threat policy that may include:

A.__A determination of the distinction between a credible and noncredible bomb threat and the related evaluative criteria;

B.__A bomb threat evacuation plan and a delineation of the circumstances under which that plan becomes effective;

C.__Identification of alternative classroom sites that are available in locations other than the site of the bomb threat;

D.__The nature of the response and the level of preparedness of local police, fire and other emergency officials when a bomb threat to a school is reported;

E.__Bomb search procedures and the parties responsible for carrying out the search;

F.__How lost classroom time may be made up;

G.__The school board's policy on disciplining students apprehended in bomb threats;

H.__The methods by which the school board will make students aware of the consequences of making a bomb threat to a school, including relevant criminal penalties; and

I.__Other policies to assist administrators and teachers in preventing and responding to bomb threats in their schools.

18.__Bomb threat information in student handbooks.__Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, each school board shall include in its student handbook a section that addresses in detail the school's bomb threat policies and protocols.__The section of the handbook must explain to the students the educational and legal consequences of making a bomb threat to a school.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill is part of the report of the Joint Study Committee to Study Bomb Threats in Maine Schools. It requires the Department of Education to develop prototypical guidelines, policies and protocols for school administrative units to use in developing local responses to school bomb threats. The bill also requires school boards to report bomb threats to the Commissioner of Education; to develop school bomb threat policies and protocols; and to include specific information addressing school bomb threat policies in their student handbooks.