Worried parents may soon have a better idea if their child's school keeps and practices an updated emergency safety plan.
A bill aimed at tighter regulations on school safety has cleared a first hurdle in the California Senate.
Recent tragedies in Newtown, Conn. and Moore, Okla. have renewed questions about safety in San Diego schools.
State law mandates all schools must keep an updated school safety plan and practice emergency drills but, little is done to check that this is actually happening.
A bill, now on its way to the state Assembly, would change all that.
Sen. Ted Lieu from Los Angeles said the state does not have accurate figures on how many public schools have updated school safety plans in place.
State data from 2009 shows less than half the schools in L.A. actually followed that law.
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Lieu's bill would add teeth to the existing code by requiring the Department of Education to check on the plans and fine districts that don't comply.
An exclusive NBC7 investigation also found only two school districts of 42 in San Diego County are documenting doing all of their required safety drills.
NBC 7 Investigates: Most Districts Don't Review School Drill Documentation
Lieu said his office is now working on crafting legislation that would address this issue as well.
