SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois will be the first state to require all colleges and universities to plan for and practice their responses to all types of potential emergencies.
Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich signed the Campus Security Enhancement Act into a law Aug. 22. The law will guarantee that all response plans are working with local emergency response agencies and mental health service providers.
The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2009. All Illinois college and university campuses will be expected to create an all-hazards emergency response plan and a campus violence prevention plan that is both inter-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional. Campuses must also develop a campus threat assessment team and a campus violence prevention committee.
Additionally, the governor is seeking to create the Campus Security Enhancement Grant Program, which would cost $25 million. The program would provide funds for campus safety training.
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