Report 2016-136 Recommendation Responses

Report 2016-136: School Violence Prevention: School Districts, County Offices of Education, and the State Must Do More to Ensure That School Safety Plans Help Protect Students and Staff During Emergencies (Release Date: August 2017)

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that students and staff are prepared to respond to violent incidents on or near school sites, the Legislature should require that safety plans include procedures, such as lockdowns, recommended by federal and state agencies. The Legislature should also require schools to hold periodic training and drills on these procedures.

Description of Legislative Action

The Legislature did not take action in the 2021-2022 legislative session to address this specific recommendation.

AB 1747 (Chapter 806, Statutes of 2018) requires the school site council to consult with a fire department and other first responder entities in the writing and development of the comprehensive school safety plan and to share the plan and any updates with them. Additionally, this statute requires a comprehensive school safety plan to include procedures for conducting tactical responses to criminal incidents.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

AB 1747 (Chapter 806, Statutes of 2018) requires the school site council to consult with a fire department and other first responder entities in the writing and development of the comprehensive school safety plan and to share the plan and any updates with them. Additionally, this statute requires a comprehensive school safety plan to include procedures for conducting tactical responses to criminal incidents.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented


Description of Legislative Action

SB 541 (Bates) would require every public school, including charter schools, and every private school that has an enrollment of 50 or more pupils or more than one classroom, and serves students in grades kindergarten to 12, to conduct an age-appropriate lockdown drill or multi-option response drill at least once per school year. As of September 4, 2019, this bill is pending in the Assembly.

AB 1747 (Chapter 806, Statutes of 2018) requires the school site council to consult with a fire department and other first responder entities in the writing and development of the comprehensive school safety plan and to share the plan and any updates with them. Additionally, this statute requires a comprehensive school safety plan to include procedures for conducting tactical responses to criminal incidents.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented


Description of Legislative Action

The Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

Note: Assembly Bill 1747 would require the school site council to consult with a fire department and other first responder entities in the writing and development of the comprehensive school safety plan and to share the plan and any updates with them. Additionally, this bill would require a comprehensive school safety plan to include procedures for conducting tactical responses to criminal incidents. As of September 5, 2018, this bill is pending the Governor's action.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

Assembly Bill 1747 (Rodriguez) would require that the term "tactical responses to criminal incidents" in a comprehensive school safety plan include procedures related to individuals with guns on school campuses and at school-related functions, and that drills to prepare for active shooters or other armed assailants shall be based on the specific needs and context of each school and community. The bill would further provide that schools shall consider the most cost-effective method of preparing pupils and staff for an active shooter situation while balancing the physical and psychological risks associated with these drills.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Legislation Introduced


All Recommendations in 2016-136