Panel to Mull Requiring Schools Plan for Violent Incidents

A legislative panel is set to take up a measure requiring schools to make safety plans for potential violent incidents such as an intruder coming in with a weapon.

The Senate Education Committee on Thursday is expected to review a proposal that would also require schools to conduct an annual lockdown drill.

The bill's main sponsor is Republican Sen. Larry Tidemann of Brookings. He says that violence at schools is a "situation that we're living in today."

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Tidemann says schools have plans for tornados and fires, so they should also have a blueprint for how to react to a violent situation.

Under the proposal, a school would designate a leader for if a violent incident occurs, establish evacuation procedures and create an emergency response team that includes local law enforcement.

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