HR0865 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0865 LRB100 20976 MST 36650 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is a truly harrowing time in our society today; it is a period, unfortunately, marked by unconscionable violence that has pervaded into many of our communities and affected the lives of our most vulnerable: our children; the unthinkable tragedy that took place on February 14, 2018 in Parkland, Florida is just the latest episode in a heart-rending narrative that is becoming an entirely unacceptable new normal; and

WHEREAS, The violence has become a quotidian phenomenon and one that is all too familiar; this violence that has taken place in recent years, months, and yet again reappeared last week in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, cannot continue to be left unchallenged; schoolchildren have become both exposed to these stories in the news and victims to these senseless acts that have claimed the lives of so many innocent youths and scarred the lives of many more; and

WHEREAS, It is a regretful reality to comprehend, but it is one that we have to face and one that necessarily forces us to do what we can to improve school security; while there is no one panacea to the wide-array of issues that have led to these atrocities, and various debates can be had between people of different ideologies, beliefs, and political affiliations on the merits of each proposed solution, it is in the best interest of our children that we work together to ensure that everything is done to better prepare our schools to respond effectively in the event that such calamity were to occur in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, It is with this sentiment in mind that the Illinois General Assembly should encourage school districts and individual schools to explore and evaluate active shooter response training programs that will help reduce the loss of life; numerous schools here in Illinois and across the country have already taken appropriate steps or are in the process of developing such training strategies; and

WHEREAS, One such training program that has proven successful and has been implemented by some Illinois school districts is the Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate (ALICE) program; the ALICE training program has been developed through the ALICE Training Institute and was created by a law enforcement officer who set out to improve the limited, traditional protocol employed by most schools, i.e., (i) alert the school of the situation, (ii) have teachers get all students in a classroom and lock the door and shut the lights, and (iii) sit patiently in the corner of the room waiting for law enforcement officers to arrive; the ALICE training program, however, departs from this model and instead focuses on option-based, proactive survival strategies that provide individuals trapped in an active shooter situation with diverse tools necessary to help save lives; and

WHEREAS, The system devised by the ALICE Training Institute focuses on being alert, knowing how to properly assess the situation, taking precautions when in lockdown, devising communication strategies that help effectively inform others of where the assailant is located in the building, using dynamic techniques that help mitigate the danger posed by the shooter, and, finally, explaining the best ways and times to evacuate the danger areas; the ALICE training model is supported by law enforcement and first responders nationwide as it helps bolster the protections and safety of the innocent throughout the ordeal, and especially during the time that it takes for law enforcement to respond to the call and take control of the situation - a period where every minute and second matters and astute action of victims can help maximize the safety of others; and

WHEREAS, The ALICE Training Institute has offered its services in all 50 states, trained over one million individuals (in both the public and private sectors), and is currently used in over 4,200 K-12 schools and nearly 1,000 higher education institutions; and

WHEREAS, Training programs like ALICE deserve to be evaluated and incorporated into our schools with urgent haste as we continue to adapt to the new threats of violence that everyday appear closer to home; and

WHEREAS, Collaboration between school and local law enforcement officials in the implementation of updated active shooter response training is vital to the protection of both students and staff in Illinois schools; and

WHEREAS, The interest in our children's future is of paramount importance and, therefore, the Illinois General Assembly should stand at the ready to explore all of the best practices necessary to ensure the safety of our children and look to promote the implementation of programs like ALICE that not only improve safety but help foster a more open communication line between parents, teachers, and school administrators; and

WHEREAS, In a time where polarization exists and seems to dominate the political sphere, this is an issue that neither invites nor seeks to create controversy; the well-being and protection of our children demands that we take quick action on this matter in hopes of preventing this unspeakable violence from claiming any more innocent lives; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we strongly encourage every school district in the State of Illinois and the heads of each school in this State, in collaboration with local law enforcement, to begin exploring and implementing the necessary modern response training programs and innovative procedures that are designed to help prevent the loss of life in the event of an on-campus emergency; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Secretary of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Office of the Governor of Illinois, and the Illinois General Assembly so that any action necessary of the State may be extended to school districts across Illinois so that we may better protect the lives of teachers, administrators, and students.