(a) Except as provided under subsection (a.1), in all school buildings of school entities where fire-escapes, appliances for the extinguishment of fires, or proper and sufficient exits in case of fire or panic, either or all, are required by law to be maintained, fire drills shall be periodically conducted, not less than one a month, by the teacher or teachers in charge, under rules and regulations to be promulgated by the chief school administrator under whose supervision such school entities are. In such fire drills the pupils and teachers shall be instructed in, and made thoroughly familiar with, the use of the fire-escapes, appliances and exits. The drill shall include the actual use thereof, and the complete removal of the pupils and teachers, in an expeditious and orderly manner, by means of fire-escapes and exits, from the building to a place of safety on the ground outside.

(a.1) Within ninety (90) days of the commencement of the school year after the effective date of this subsection and within ninety (90) days of the commencement of each school year thereafter, each school entity shall conduct one school security drill per school year in each school building in place of a fire drill required under subsection (a). After ninety (90) days from the commencement of each school year, each school entity may conduct two school security drills per school year in each school building in place of two fire drills required under subsection (a). All of the following shall apply:

(b) Chief school administrators are hereby required to see that the provisions of this section are faithfully carried out in the school entities over which they have charge.

(c) Any person who violates or fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or to undergo imprisonment in the county jail for not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days, or both.

(d) All school entities using or contracting for school buses for the transportation of school children shall conduct on school grounds two emergency evacuation drills on buses during each school year, the first to be conducted during the first week of the first school term and the second during the month of March, and at such other times as the chief school administrator may require. Each such drill shall include the practice and instruction concerning the location, use and operation of emergency exit doors and fire extinguishers and the proper evacuation of buses in the event of fires or accidents.

Bus operators shall be provided with proper training and instructions to enable them to carry out the provisions of this subsection and may be required to attend classes and drills in connection therewith.

(e) On or before the tenth day of April of each year, each chief school administrator shall certify to the Department of Education that the emergency evacuation drills and school security drills herein required have been conducted in accordance with this section.

(f) As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:

“Chief school administrator” shall mean the superintendent of a school district, superintendent of an area career and technical school, executive director of an intermediate unit or chief executive officer of a charter school or regional charter school.

“School entity” shall mean an area career and technical school, school district, intermediate unit, charter school or regional charter school.

“School security drill” shall mean a planned exercise, other than a fire drill or natural disaster drill, designed to practice procedures to respond to an emergency situation that may include, but is not limited to, an act of terrorism, armed intruder situation or other violent threat.