Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the Campus Security Act Enhancement Act Friday that makes Illinois the first state to require all universities to plan and practice responses to emergencies.

The act takes effect Jan. 1, 2009, and forces Illinois universities and colleges to develop and exercise an all-hazards emergency response plan and an interdisciplinary campus violence prevention plan.

“The Campus Security Enhancement Act represents good public policy,” President Bill Perry said.

Perry added Eastern already has agreements with local authorities and has the appropriate campus individuals who have completed the National Incident Management System training. The university will be reviewing the agreements to make sure Eastern and the appropriate external agencies are in compliance with the act, Perry said.

Blagojevich said in a press release that the law sets Illinois apart in efforts to make students and faculty on college campuses as safe as possible. Along with requiring a response plan, the law will requires the development and implementation of a campus violence prevention committee and campus threat assessment team.

The act incorporated several recommendations presented to Blagojevich by the Campus Security Task Force, which was formed in April 2007 by Blagojevich after the Virginia Tech shootings.

Perry said the administration would report to the Board of Trustees in November about its review of agreements.

“EIU is already essentially in compliance with this act,” he said.

Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.