A. An emergency drill shall be conducted in each public and private school of the state at least once each week during the first four weeks of the school year. During the first four weeks of the school year, each school shall conduct one shelter in place drill that includes preparation to respond to an active shooter, one evacuation drill and two fire drills. During the rest of the school year, each school shall conduct at least four more emergency drills, at least two of which shall be fire drills. It shall be the responsibility of the person in charge of a school to carry out the provisions of this section.

B. In locations where a fire department is maintained, a member of the fire department shall be requested to be in attendance during the emergency drills for the purpose of giving instruction and constructive criticism.

C. The department shall determine penalties for any person failing to meet the provisions of this section.

History: 1953 Comp., § 77-11-9, enacted by Laws 1967, ch. 16, § 188; 1979, ch. 81, § 1; 2005, ch. 27, § 1; 2019, ch. 158, § 1.

Cross references. — For fire protection training programs, see 59A-52-6 NMSA 1978.

The 2019 amendment, effective June 14, 2019, established new requirements for school evacuation and active shooter drills; and in Subsection A, deleted "and at least once each month thereafter until the end of the school year. Two drills during the year shall be shelter-in-place drills and one shall be an evacuation drill, as directed by the department. The remainder of the drills shall be fire drills." and added "During the first four weeks of the school year, each school shall conduct one shelter in place drill that includes preparation to respond to an active shooter, one evacuation drill and two fire drills. During the rest of the school year, each school shall conduct at least four more emergency drills, at lest two of which shall be fire drills.".

The 2005 amendment, effective July 1, 2005, required that two emergency drills during the year be shelter-in-place drill, one drill be an evacuation drill and the remainder of the drills be fire drills.