OLYMPIA -- On Friday the governor signed into law the bill that aims to improve safety at four-year universities.

The new law requires the state's colleges and universities to have a campus safety plan for emergencies.

The governor signed the law just five days short of the one-year anniversary of the gruesome murder-suicide on the University of Washington campus. Last April, UW employee Rebecca Griego was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend who then turned the gun on himself.

Since the shooting, the university has made improvements to campus safety, and those safety plans have now been signed into law.

The law comes in the wake of two other horrific shootings, both tragedies that threw into question what was once assumed -- the safety of students.

Last April a mentally-ill student at Virginia Tech University killed 32 victims and wounded dozens of others.

And just last month, a former graduate student of Northern Illinois University opened fire inside a lecture hall and killed five students before committing suicide on Valentine's Day.

The new law is welcomed news for UW students who have called for a bigger police presence.

After Griego's murder, the university set up a Web site that focuses on safety. And a "safe line" was set up at all three campuses to allow students and staff members to report suspicious behavior.

Police say communication is key to implementing an effective safety plan, and students agree.

"It's a large school, a public institution. I don't think it's really excusable to not communicate. It's a potential safety risk to students," said student Dylan Baldwin.