(a) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department, in consultation with the Subcabinet, may adopt regulations to incorporate in the annual schedule of drills for each local school system developmentally and age–appropriate components of:
(i) The Active Shooter Preparedness Program developed by the Department of Homeland Security or guidelines; or
(ii) The active shooter guidelines adopted by the Maryland Active Assailant Work Group established under Executive Order 01.01.2018.08.
(2) Items incorporated into the annual schedule of drills in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection may take the form of a training rather than a drill.
(b) Drills or trainings incorporated into the annual schedule of drills under subsection (a) of this section shall be developmentally and age–appropriate, and may include procedures for students or school personnel in:
(1) Securing classrooms;
(2) Barricading classrooms and school entries;
(3) Taking refuge in the classroom; and
(4) When appropriate, escape from the classroom or school.
(c) Before the 2025–2026 school year, and before each school year thereafter, the Department shall review the best practices for active shooter safety drills or trainings identified by the Center in accordance with § 7–1502(g) of this subtitle and update any drills and trainings that have been incorporated into the annual schedule of drills under subsection (a) of this section to reflect those best practices.
(d) (1) Except for a voluntary drill or training occurring after school hours, active shooter safety drills or trainings may not include:
(i) Loud sounds intended to imitate gunfire or explosions;
(ii) Live exercises with individuals role–playing as an active shooter or a victim; or
(iii) Similar activities that may cause the drill or training to be traumatic for students or school personnel.
(2) If a concern is raised that a component of a drill or training best practice identified under subsection (c) of this section is contrary to the intent of the trauma–sensitive requirements under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Center, after consultation with the Department, shall make the final determination as to whether the component complies with the requirements under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(e) The Department shall notify the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Legislative Policy Committee of proposed changes to regulations that alter the annual schedule of drills as provided under this section.
(f) Each local school system shall:
(1) Collaborate with the local law enforcement agency to establish policies for responding to an emergency at each public school in the county;
(2) Provide parents with the annual schedule of active shooter safety drills or trainings at the beginning of the school year, which includes:
(i) The month in which the drills or trainings will occur;
(ii) The type of drill or training that will occur; and
(iii) How students will be notified of the drill or training;
(3) Announce drills or trainings in advance to students and school personnel;
(4) Notify parents after a drill or training has taken place;
(5) Provide a mental health follow–up for students and school personnel after a drill or training;
(6) (i) Identify students or school personnel who may require additional support during and after a drill or training, including an individual:
1. With a disability; or
2. Who has experienced trauma; and
(ii) Provide additional resources and coping strategies for individuals who require additional support during and after a drill or training; and
(7) (i) Collect data on the effectiveness and psychological impact of the drills or trainings, including requesting feedback from school personnel, parents, and students, in a manner and format approved by the Center to allow for the required analysis under § 7–1502(g)(22) of this subtitle; and
(ii) Report the data and findings to the Center.
(g) (1) (i) On or before July 1, 2025, the Center shall develop model content that informs parents of the State’s firearm storage laws.
(ii) Each year, the Center shall evaluate the model content and update it as needed.
(2) The Center shall consult with the Department of State Police in developing the model content.
(3) At the beginning of each school year, each local school system shall distribute the model content to the parents.