(1) (a) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(I) The safety of students, faculty, and staff who work and learn on the campuses of Colorado institutions of higher education can be enhanced by informing, organizing, and empowering those individuals to respond appropriately to emergency situations on campus;

(II) Critical incidents that take place on campuses are unique, life-changing events that require exercising basic survival skills during an intense period of high mental and physical stress. Having the information necessary to respond effectively to these critical incidents can be key to a positive individual or group outcome in a true life or death situation; and

(III) Colorado institutions of higher education should ensure that all students, faculty, and staff receive updated school safety information that reflects best practices for their institution at the beginning of each school year.

(b) The general assembly therefore finds that the dissemination of safety information to students, faculty, and staff that reflects best practices for the institution may encourage students, faculty, and staff to respond appropriately and in coordination with school safety personnel in emergency situations.

(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means a state institution of higher education as defined in section 23-18-102 (10)(a), a local district college, an area technical college, or a technical college.

(b) "School building" means a building, including but not limited to a classroom building or a school dormitory, that is a public building of an institution of higher education.

(3) (a) Each institution of higher education shall develop policies and procedures that are tailored to the institution and that reflect best practices concerning critical incident response protocols and personal safety on campus and in school buildings on campus.

(b) Beginning in the 2011-12 academic year, each institution shall disseminate annually school safety information to students, faculty, and staff concerning the policies and procedures developed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (3).