Metro East Sun

State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Litchfield) gave her support to Rep. Maura Hirschauer’s (D- West Chicago) bill which would amend the School Safety Drill Act during the bill's third reading.

Bourne, who is the Republican Spokesperson of the Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee, had previously objected to the bill during the committee debate in late March.

“I know we had a discussion about this in committee and it went out on partisan leave, but I want to thank you for working to come to what I think is an agreed bill …,” Bourne said. “I know we had some concerns about the notification being within five days, now it's just reasonable notification… the balance that you have gotten in this amendment is something that I plan on supporting.”

Initially, Hirschauer had proposed that HB 20400 would require “that parents or guardians must receive prior notice of a law enforcement drill not less than 5 days prior to the drill.”

But an amendment was adopted which removed the requirement and instead placed a provision that parents/guardians should be notified and “in their discretion, exempt a student or students from participating in a walk-through lockdown drill.”

Bourne also mentioned that she has participated in these drills and thinks that the amendment made by her Democratic colleague is “good for our law enforcement and good for our kids.”