“This legislation arose following a chemical spill near a school in Ohio,” said Keicher. “The school administration wasn’t sure what to do, and there was some conflicting information about whether they should evacuate students, lock the school down, shut off the HVAC systems, or what.”
While the chemical spill occurred in Ohio, the event prompted Illinois officials to review emergency guidance for schools in Illinois, only to realize no such guidance existed. Through SB 71, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security will develop guidance for Illinois schools to incorporate into their emergency plans in the event of a hazardous waste spill or explosion that happens near a school.
“Thankfully, hazardous chemical spills like this are rare, but they can have devastating outcomes if our schools are not prepared, and this legislation ensures our schools, and most importantly, our children, will be better prepared if something like this does happen,” concluded Keicher.
SB 71 has now passed the Illinois House and Senate unanimously and is ready to be sent to the Governor to be signed into law. For more information about the bill, click here.