AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; REQUIRING EMERGENCY DRILLS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. Section 22-13-14 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 16, Section 188, as amended) is amended to read:

     "22-13-14. EMERGENCY DRILLS--REQUIREMENT.--

          A. An emergency drill shall be conducted in each public and private school of the state at least once each week during the first four weeks of the school year and at least once each month thereafter until the end of the school year. Two drills during the year shall be shelter-in-place drills and one shall be an evacuation drill, as directed by the department. The remainder of the drills shall be fire drills. It shall be the responsibility of the person in charge of a school to carry out the provisions of this section.

          B. In locations where a fire department is maintained, a member of the fire department shall be requested to be in attendance during the emergency drills for the purpose of giving instruction and constructive criticism.

          C. The department shall determine penalties for any person failing to meet the provisions of this section."     Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2005.