Colorado § 24-33.5-1213.4 - School all-hazard emergency planning and response.

§ 24-33.5-1213.4. School all-hazard emergency planning and response.

(1) The school response framework created in section 22-32-109.1 (4), C.R.S., sets forth the framework for school emergency incident response and emergency preparedness, including emergency communications and the responsibilities of school resource officers. Pursuant to the school response framework, emergency response personnel are community partners with schools. As part of its duty to regularly inspect school buildings to ensure compliance with the fire code, the division, local fire departments, and certified fire inspectors may partner with schools in assessing each school's implementation of NIMS, the interoperability of the school's emergency communications equipment with state and local emergency response agencies, and the implementation of a school resource officer program.

(2) (a) As part of the division's duty, as set forth in section 24-33.5-1213, to enforce the provisions of section 22-32-124 (2), C.R.S., and section 24-33.5-1213.3, the division:

(I) Shall inquire of each school as to the number and type of any all-hazard drills conducted by the school, in addition to regular fire drills; and

(II) May inquire concerning:

(A) The school safety, readiness, and incident management plan developed pursuant to section 22-32-109.1 (4)(d), C.R.S.;

(B) The school's progress toward implementing NIMS and the incident command system pursuant to section 22-32-109.1, C.R.S., and in achieving communications interoperability with state and local emergency personnel;

(C) The nature and location of the school's emergency equipment, including communications equipment, and whether the communications equipment's interoperability with state and local emergency personnel has been tested separately or as part of an all-hazard drill; and

(D) Any other issues related to the school response framework, including but not limited to NIMS implementation, incident management, and communications interoperability with state and local emergency personnel.

(b) Inquiries made by the division pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) that do not relate to the fire code shall not be the basis for a notice of deficiency or enforcement action.

(3) (a) Pursuant to its role as a community partner with schools, the division may, as part of its regular correspondence with schools, provide information to school safety personnel in school districts and schools, including but not limited to information related to NIMS and interoperable communications, courses and training on NIMS and interoperable communications, representation of schools at meetings held by community partners, best practices in incident management, and funding or grant opportunities related to emergency preparedness.

(b) The division shall collaborate with the office of information technology, created in section 24-37.5-103, the school safety resource center created in section 24-33.5-1803, and any other government entities and community partners as determined by the division to collect and disseminate information to school districts and schools as described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3).

Source: L. 2011: Entire section added, (SB 11-173), ch. 310, p. 1515, § 3, effective June 10. L. 2013: (1) amended, (SB 13-138), ch. 253, p. 1342, § 4, effective May 23.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in the 2011 act adding this section, see section 1 of chapter 310, Session Laws of Colorado 2011. For the legislative declaration in the 2013 act amending subsection (1), see section 1 of chapter 253, Session Laws of Colorado 2013.