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NEWSWIRE
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New bill strengthens emergency response plans on Illinois campuses |
08.26.2008 
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill.--Gov. Rod. R. Blagojevich last week signed the Campus Security Enhancement Act into law, making Illinois the first state to require all colleges and universities to plan for and practice their responses to emergencies of all natures.
The law will ensure response plans are developed in partnership with local emergency response agencies and mental health service providers, the Journal Star reported.
"The tragedies that occurred on the Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University campuses provided an unfortunate reminder that colleges and universities are not immune to acts of senseless violence," Blagojevich said. "This new law sets Illinois apart in our efforts to make sure students and faculty members on college campuses are as safe as possible."
Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, all Illinois higher education institutions will be required to develop and exercise an all-hazards emergency response plan and an inter-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional campus violence prevention plan. State and local emergency management officials will assist with the development of these plans, as well as with training and exercises related to the plans. The act also requires the development and implementation of a campus violence prevention committee and campus threat assessment team.
"Colleges and universities in Illinois have long recognized the importance of implementing measures to ensure the safety of their students," Andrew Velasquez III, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, told the publication. "This act will strengthen those efforts by ensuring consistency in their planning efforts and encouraging coordination with their local emergency response agencies."
Blagojevich continues to push for legislative approval of another task force recommendation that would create a $25-million Campus Security Enhancement Grant Program. The program would make available funding for campus security response and violence prevention training programs, projects to enhance emergency communications, and planning and execution of campus-wide training exercises. Funding for this initiative is included in the proposed Illinois Works capital program.
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