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State House Defeats Measure To Require Schools Safety Plans

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The state House has voted down a measure requiring South Dakota schools to have a safety plan for potential violent incidents such as a school shooting.

The House voted 37-30 against the proposal, which also would require schools to conduct a lockdown drill annually.

The bill’s sponsor is Republican Rep. Scott Munsterman. He says the bill’s defeat on the floor surprised him.

Munsterman says schools have drills for tornados and fires, so they should also have a blueprint for reacting to violent situations.

Opponents say the measure contained unnecessary mandates on school districts.

Munsterman says school districts want the guidelines and says that the plan is part of making children safer. The plan had been approved in its previous legislative stops without any dissenting votes.