32280.5.
(a) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school serving pupils in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.(b) The Superintendent shall establish a State Assistance for Emergency Response Team, which may be referred to as “SAFER,” in the department to provide guidance and support to local educational agencies experiencing emergencies, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(1) An event listed in subdivision (a) of Section 46392.
(2) A public
safety power shutoff.
(3) A threat or act of violence, or other pupil safety threat or act.
(4) A crisis related to mental health, including a suicide cluster or spate, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other trauma with a broad impact.
(5) Other emergency events, as determined by the Superintendent.
(c) SAFER shall include department staff who are able to address the ramifications of each emergency described in subdivision (b) as it relates to educational matters, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Assessment and accountability.
(2) Data collection.
(3) Fiscal and administrative services.
(4) School fiscal services.
(5) Human resources.
(6) Technology services.
(7) Facilities and transportation.
(8) Funding and apportionment.
(9) Early learning and childcare.
(10) Special education and individualized education programs.
(11) Nutrition services.
(12) Charter schools.
(13) State special schools and services.
(14) School health.
(14)
(15) Other matters affected by an emergency, as determined by the Superintendent.
(d) The duties of SAFER shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Serving as a liaison for the Superintendent and the department with local educational agencies.
(2) Providing guidance and assistance in coordinating crisis response, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A) Timeframes for closing, opening, and reopening schoolsites.
(B) Cleaning and air quality protocols.
(C) Health and safety protocols.
(D) Surveillance and monitoring of changing conditions.
(E) Protocols and procedures for remaining open, such as having functioning
alarm and alert systems, or assigning staff to physically patrol facilities.
(F) Damaged facilities, including access to water and other utilities.
(G) Sample notices for families, pupils, community, and staff.
(H) Adjusting master schedules for potential missed instructional days.
(I) Preparation and training for staff for emergencies described in subdivision (b).
(J) Procurement and funding sources for appropriate emergency supplies, including, but not limited to, food, cleaning products, air masks, generators, portable classrooms, and portable bathrooms.
(3) Facilitating expedited processing of requests for allowance of attendance due to emergency conditions, as described in Sections 41422, 46200, 46391, and 46392.
(4) Guiding the process for requests for allowance of attendance due to emergency conditions, as described in Sections 41422, 46200, 46391, and 46392.
(5) Coordinating with the State Department of Public Health to collect and report appropriate disaggregated population-level pupil health and mental health data resulting from emergencies described in subdivision (b).
(6) Coordinating and liaising with applicable federal, state, and local agencies, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A) The Office of Emergency Services.
(B) The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(C) Affected county and city offices of emergency services and offices of emergency management.
(D) The United States Department of Education.
(E) Local hospitals.
(F) Relevant city and county offices, departments, and agencies.
(e) Within 72 hours of a state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 8550) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code) or an
emergency declared by the President of the United States pursuant to the federal Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 5121 et seq.), or at the discretion of the Superintendent, the Superintendent shall schedule a telephone conference call, video conference call, or in-person meeting with all affected superintendents of school districts, county superintendents of schools, charter school administrators, and other local educational agency employees serving local educational agencies.
(f) (1) On or before June 30 of each year, SAFER shall submit a report describing its activities to the Superintendent, the Assembly Committee on Education, and the Senate Committee on Education.
(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(g) This section shall become operative only upon an appropriation by the Legislature for the purposes of this section.