Changes Set to Delaware School Safety Law

Delaware schools are facing new requirements for conducting safety drills under legislation being signed this week.

Legislation signed Wednesday by Gov. Jack Markell moves the compliance date for schools under the 2012 Omnibus School Safety Act to this month, instead of September 2017.

The legislation also requires schools to conduct at least one critical incident tabletop exercise annually, rather than every two years. School also will have to conduct at least two lockdown/intruder drills per year, rather one critical incident exercise annually.

Schools also will have to submit verification of the exercises to the Department of Homeland Security.

Officials say about 80 percent of schools already have complied with requirements to develop comprehensive safety plans coordinated with first responders and tailored to their specific locations.