Plain Language Summary
# MSD Act Summary **What It Would Do** The Measures for Safer School Districts Act (HR 1335) aims to improve school safety and emergency preparedness. If passed, it would require all public schools receiving federal education funding to develop detailed emergency response plans covering situations like active shooters, bomb threats, and natural disasters. Schools would also need to strengthen interior and exterior doors, and establish systems to quickly notify parents when emergencies occur on school grounds, during transportation, or at school-sponsored events. **Who It Affects** The bill applies to all public school districts across the country that receive federal funding, as well as students, staff, and families at those schools.
It sets federal standards that would apply uniformly, though schools would have flexibility in how they implement the specific requirements. **Current Status** The bill was introduced by Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House. The bill focuses on emergency procedures and communications rather than other school safety measures like armed security or metal detectors.
CRS Official Summary
Measures for Safer School Districts Act or the MSD ActThis bill requires each local educational agency (LEA), as a condition of receiving federal elementary and secondary education funds, to establish procedures for responding to school emergencies and for timely notifying parents of school emergencies. It also requires interior and exterior doors in schools to be reinforced. Specifically, the bill requires each LEA to (1) develop and implement emergency response procedures covering all students, faculty, and staff at public schools under the jurisdiction of the LEA; and (2) ensure that parents and guardians receive timely notification of covered threats and emergencies (e.g., active shooter situations, bomb threats, and natural disasters) that occur on school grounds, during school transportation, or during school-sponsored activities. These emergency response procedures must meet specified criteria, including by requiring commonly used alarm system responses for specific types of emergencies.Additionally, the bill requires the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to convene a rulemaking advisory committee to review and develop findings and recommendations to require the installation or modification of interior and exterior doors in any school that receives federal funding. Further, CISA must (1) submit a report to Congress on the advisory committee's findings and recommendations, and (2) issue a final rule that requires the installation or modification of interior and exterior doors in schools to reinforce such doors.The bill authorizes the use of grants under the Homeland Security Grant Program to carry out the bill's provisions.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology.