H. B. 2266

         (By Delegate Caputo)

         [Introduced January 12, 2011; referred to the

         Committee on Education.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-5h, relating to requiring the state Board of Education to promulgate rules implementing a tornado safety awareness plan in public schools.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-5h, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

§18-2-5h. Tornado safety awareness plan.

    The state board shall promulgate rules in accordance with the provisions of article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a, implementing a tornado safety awareness plan in public schools which shall minimally provide for the following:

    (1) Require schools to designate a tornado shelter area, develop an evacuation plan and provide basic instruction to faculty and students on tornado safety awareness;

    (2) Require a tornado drill to be practiced at least once during the first week of school each year;

    (3) Require schools to assign staff members to monitor media for local weather conditions and take appropriate action when necessary; and

    (4) Require schools to designate a special alarm to indicate when a tornado has been sighted or is approaching.

    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the state Board of Education to implement a tornado safety awareness plan in public schools.

    §18-2-5h is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.