To repeal sections 160.453, 160.455 and 160.457, RSMo 1994, relating to earthquake emergency procedures, and to enact in lieu thereof three new sections relating to the same subject.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI,

AS FOLLOWS:

Section A. Sections 160.453, 160.455 and 160.457, RSMo 1994, are repealed and three new sections enacted in lieu thereof to be known as sections 160.453, 160.455 and 160.457, to read as follows:

160.453. 1. The earthquake emergency procedure system shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) A school building disaster plan, ready for implementation at any time, for monitoring the safety and care of students and staff;

(2) An emergency exercise to be held at least twice each school year whereby students and staff simulate earthquake emergency conditions and the procedures for safety and protection to be implemented under such conditions; provided the department of education shall not require any school district to perform more than two earthquake preparedness drills during any one school year;

(3) Protective measures to be taken before, during and following an earthquake; and

(4) A program to ensure that the students and certificated and noncertificated employees of the school district are aware of, and properly trained in, the earthquake emergency procedure system.

2. Each school district shall make available for public inspection during normal business hours its earthquake emergency procedure system.

3. Each school district shall annually notify the state board of education on or before the last day of the school year of the dates on which earthquake drills were conducted for each school building in its jurisdiction during that school year. Such notice shall be provided in writing on a form provided by the department of elementary and secondary education for that purpose.

160.455. 1. At the beginning of each school year, each school district in the state shall distribute to each student such materials that have been prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the state emergency management agency or by agencies that are authorities in the area of earthquake safety and that provide the following objectives:

(1) Developing public awareness regarding the causes of earthquakes, the forces and effects of earthquakes, and the need for school and community action in coping with earthquake hazards;

(2) Promoting understanding of the impact of earthquakes on natural features and manmade structures; and

(3) Explaining what safety measures should be taken by individuals and households prior to, during and following an earthquake.

2. At the beginning of each school year, each school district in the state shall provide notice of the earthquake drills scheduled for each school building in its jurisdiction by one or both of the following methods:

(1) Distributing to each student a written notice which contains the dates scheduled during that school year for earthquake drills at the school building attended by the student;

(2) Publishing legal notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district which contains the dates earthquake drills are scheduled for that school year for each school building in the district.

160.457. 1. The governing body of each school district which is situated in an area of the state which can be expected to experience an intensity of ground shaking of less than VII on the Modified Mercalli scale from an earthquake occurring along the New Madrid Fault with a potential magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter Scale may elect to be subject to the provisions of sections 160.451 to 160.455.

2. During inspection and accreditation preparatory to classification of the public schools of the state pursuant to section 161.092, RSMo, the state board of education shall give no credit for satisfactory compliance with the facilities safety standard to any district which fails to conduct earthquake drills required under sections 160.451 to 160.457, or fails to provide notice as required under section 160.455.