Virginia House Advances College Emergency Plan Bill

Legislation requiring colleges and universities to develop emergency management plans is on its way to the Virginia House of Delegates floor.

The House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee unanimously endorsed the bill last week.

The measure was prompted by last April’s Virginia Tech shootings. A deranged student killed 32 people and injured dozens before committing suicide.

The legislation mirrors the recommendations of a panel that investigated the shootings and found flaws in Tech’s emergency plan.

The bill would require universities to update their emergency plan every four years, establish a threat assessment team, and create a system to notify students and employees of emergencies through e-mail, phone or other means.