Bill would allow students to opt out of safety drills

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A proposed bill would give parents the option to excuse their child from a safety drill, with the exception of fire drills. The bill also would require schools to notify parents about upcoming safety drills three school days in advance.

The proposed bill was introduced by Republican House delegate Patrick Lane. It passed the Senate 85-5 on Saturday.

"I think that providing that opportunity to opt out gives parents a little bit of insurance if they're worried about the effects it may have on their particular child," Lane said.

Lane said he hopes notifying parents ahead of time, along with giving them the option to opt out of drills, would make it easier for law enforcement to practice school safety drills with students instead of during the summer.

"Of course, that's not the same scenario as when the building is full of children," Lane said. "Hopefully we never have to put this into practice, but unfortunately we live in a time when we have to train for these kinds of things."

The proposed bill heads to the Senate Education Committee.