Less than a day after President Bush approved a new federal law that requires U.S. colleges to immediately notify their staff and students when there’s an emergency situation on campus, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the Campus Security Enhancement Act, which requires universities in the state to develop and practice responses to emergencies.

The act, which goes into effect Jan.1, 2009, was formed with recommendations from a security task force commissioned by the governor following the Virginia Tech shootings in April 2007.

The security enhancement act also makes Illinois the first state to require colleges to develop and implement an emergency response plan.