MSD Act

This bill aims to make K–12 schools safer. School districts that receive federal education funds must create emergency response plans and make sure parents get timely alerts when serious threats or emergencies happen on school grounds, on school buses, or during school activities. Plans must be built with local safety officials, use common alarm responses, and name who contacts which agency. Covered emergencies include things like weapons with intent to harm, active shooters or hostages, bomb threats, serious violent crimes, sex offenses, trespassing, fires, severe weather, natural disasters, and hazardous exposures, plus others the district deems important.

The bill also moves to strengthen school doors. It directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to quickly set up an advisory group to recommend and then require reinforced interior and exterior doors in schools that get federal funding. The standards must balance safety with the need for police to enter and for students and staff to evacuate. CISA must report to Congress within a year and issue a final rule within six months after that. The bill adds $100 million per year, for the year the final rule is issued and the following nine years, through the Homeland Security Grant Program to help carry this out.

Key points

• Who is affected: Public elementary and secondary schools that get federal funds; students, staff, and parents; CISA and local safety partners .
• What changes: Required emergency plans and parent notifications; reinforced school doors with national standards and training; grant funding to support implementation .
• When: CISA convenes its advisory group within 90 days of enactment; report due within one year; final rule due within six months after the report; funding available starting the year the final rule is issued and for nine more years.