ASSEMBLY, No. 3569

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  CARMELO G. GARCIA

District 33 (Hudson)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires unguarded exit doors in public school building to be equipped with alarms that detect unauthorized exit.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning school building exit doors and supplementing chapter 33 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. 

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  Each exit door in a public elementary or secondary school building that is unguarded during the school day shall be equipped with an audible alarm that alerts school staff of an individual exiting the building. 

     b.    The alarms required by subsection a. of this section may be deactivated:

     (1) as determined by the school principal during times when large groups are exiting the building such as the beginning and end of the school day, periods of recess, fire and emergency drills, or gatherings for outside assemblages; and

     (2) by authorized personnel of the school who are exiting the building. 

     c.    Each school principal, or his designee, shall be responsible for the prompt investigation of an alarm activation to ensure that a student has not exited the building without proper cause.   

 

     2.    This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month after enactment. 

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires that each exit door in a public elementary or secondary school building that is unguarded during the school day be equipped with an audible alarm that alerts school staff of an individual exiting the building. 

     Under the bill, the alarms may be deactivated:

     (1) as determined by the school principal during times when large groups are exiting the building such as the beginning and end of the school day, periods of recess, fire and emergency drills, or gatherings for outside assemblages; and

     (2) by authorized personnel of the school who are exiting the building. 

     The bill also charges each school principal, or his designee, to  promptly investigate an alarm activation to ensure that a student has not exited the building without proper cause.