(1) All schools are required to instruct and drill students on emergency procedures so that the students can respond to an emergency without confusion or panic. The emergency procedures shall include drills and instruction on:

(a) Fires;

(b) Earthquakes, which shall include tsunami drills and instruction in schools in a tsunami hazard zone; and

(c) Safety threats.

(2)(a) Drills and instruction on fire emergencies shall include routes and methods of exiting the school building.

(b) Drills and instruction on earthquake emergencies shall include the earthquake emergency response procedure known as ‘drop, cover and hold on.’ A school may drill earthquake emergency response procedures in addition to ‘drop, cover and hold on’ when the school determines, based on evaluation of specific engineering and structural issues related to a building, that ‘drop, cover and hold on’ may not be the most effective earthquake emergency response procedure to prevent or limit injury or loss of life.

(c) Drills and instruction on tsunami emergencies shall include immediate evacuation after an earthquake when appropriate or after a tsunami warning to protect students against inundation by tsunamis.

(d) Drills and instruction on safety threats shall include:

(A) Procedures related to lockdown, lockout, shelter in place and evacuation, including the procedures described in ORS § 339.324; and

(B) Other appropriate actions to take when there is a threat to safety.

(3)(a) At least 30 minutes in each school month shall be used to instruct students on the emergency procedures described in subsection (1) of this section.

(b) At least two drills on earthquakes shall be conducted each year.

(c) At least two drills on safety threats shall be conducted each year.

(d) In schools in a tsunami hazard zone, at least three drills on earthquakes and tsunamis shall be conducted each year.

(4)(a) In addition to the instruction required under subsection (3) of this section, schools are encouraged to instruct students, in an age-appropriate manner, on preparing for and recovering from events that are:

(A) Described in subsection (1) of this section; and

(B) Natural disasters specific to the region where the school is located, including any relevant weather-related events such as flooding, drought or excessive snowfall.

(b) For the purpose of this subsection, the Department of Education shall:

(A) Develop, in consultation with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, guidance that may be used for the instruction and make the guidance available to school districts; and

(B) Provide, when requested, professional development to teachers and administrators relating to the guidance.

(5) All schools shall maintain all exit doors so that the doors can be opened from the inside without a key during school hours.

(6) Units of local government and state agencies associated with emergency procedures training and planning shall:

(a) Review emergency procedures proposed by schools; and

(b) Assist schools in the instruction and drilling of students in emergency procedures.

(7) As used in this section, ‘school’ means any:

(a) Kindergarten through grade 12 public or private school; or

(b) Educational institution having an average daily attendance of 50 or more students. [1995 c.312 § 2 (enacted in lieu of 336.072); 1997 c.521 § 9; 2013 c.463 § 1; 2015 c.421 § 1; 2023 c.517 § 1; 2023 c.560 § 2]

The amendments to 336.071 by section 1, chapter 517, Oregon Laws 2023, become operative July 1, 2024, and first apply to the 2024-2025 school year. See section 2, chapter 517, Oregon Laws 2023. The text that is operative until July 1, 2024, including amendments by section 2, chapter 560, Oregon Laws 2023, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

(1) All schools are required to instruct and drill students on emergency procedures so that the students can respond to an emergency without confusion or panic. The emergency procedures shall include drills and instruction on:

(a) Fires;

(b) Earthquakes, which shall include tsunami drills and instruction in schools in a tsunami hazard zone; and

(c) Safety threats.

(2)(a) Drills and instruction on fire emergencies shall include routes and methods of exiting the school building.

(b) Drills and instruction on earthquake emergencies shall include the earthquake emergency response procedure known as ‘drop, cover and hold on.’ A school may drill earthquake emergency response procedures in addition to ‘drop, cover and hold on’ when the school determines, based on evaluation of specific engineering and structural issues related to a building, that ‘drop, cover and hold on’ may not be the most effective earthquake emergency response procedure to prevent or limit injury or loss of life.

(c) Drills and instruction on tsunami emergencies shall include immediate evacuation after an earthquake when appropriate or after a tsunami warning to protect students against inundation by tsunamis.

(d) Drills and instruction on safety threats shall include:

(A) Procedures related to lockdown, lockout, shelter in place and evacuation, including the procedures described in ORS § 339.324; and

(B) Other appropriate actions to take when there is a threat to safety.

(3)(a) At least 30 minutes in each school month shall be used to instruct students on the emergency procedures described in subsection (1) of this section.

(b) At least two drills on earthquakes shall be conducted each year.

(c) At least two drills on safety threats shall be conducted each year.

(d) In schools in a tsunami hazard zone, at least three drills on earthquakes and tsunamis shall be conducted each year.

(4) All schools shall maintain all exit doors so that the doors can be opened from the inside without a key during school hours.

(5) Units of local government and state agencies associated with emergency procedures training and planning shall:

(a) Review emergency procedures proposed by schools; and

(b) Assist schools in the instruction and drilling of students in emergency procedures.

(6) As used in this section, ‘school’ means any:

(a) Kindergarten through grade 12 public or private school; or

(b) Educational institution having an average daily attendance of 50 or more students.

[Formerly 336.340; 1991 c.956 § 13; 1993 c.45 § 76; repealed by 1995 c.312 § 1 (336.071 enacted in lieu of 336.072)]

[Formerly 332.360; repealed by 1965 c.100 § 456]

[1971 c.326 § 2; repealed by 2021 c.178 § 12]

[1955 c.103 1,3; repealed by 1965 c.100 § 456]