Committee reviews bill to clarify allowable safety materials in new school construction

Senators reviewed Senate Bill 273 in the Education Committee, a measure amending Title 14 of the Delaware Code to clarify which safety materials may be used in new school construction and major renovations.

Senator Hall, the bill's prime sponsor, told the committee the code currently references "ballistic resistant glass or film" in secured lobbies and office areas used to screen visitors. The bill separates the term "film" from the adjective "ballistic," because, as Hall noted, "there is no ballistic film," and the distinction will help avoid confusion in procurement and implementation. Hall said the Office of Emergency Management (DEMA) brought the issue to lawmakers and that Director A.J. Shaw worked with sponsors to craft the language.

Why it matters: The sponsor framed the change as an editorial but important fix to ensure statutory language accurately reflects available materials and does not impose impractical requirements on districts.

Questions: A committee member asked whether the referenced material would be installed as glass or film; the sponsor reiterated the bill's intent to clarify acceptable materials and avoid misunderstanding about what is required.

Public comment: None was offered in-person or virtually during the committee's public-comment windows for this bill.

Next steps: The transcript records presentation and committee questions; no committee vote on SB 273 is recorded in the transcript.