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Safety Law News for April 11, 2019

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• In New York, the City of Poughkeepsie plans to create a community policing unit and implement a school resource officer program in the schools.  The police chief believes that the addition of a school resource officer and a community policing unit will help build better connections in the community.

• In Florida, parents of students killed and injured in the 2018 shooting at the Broward County Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have filed more than 20 lawsuits, alleging negligence by the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the School Board.

• In Montana, the legislature endorsed a new policy to allow rural schools to independently hire an armed school marshal and set training standards.  Law enforcement officers around the state do not believe the school marshals will be able to react adequately to a school crisis.  The Governor has not said whether he will sign the bill.

• In Oklahoma, the Senate has passed a proposal that allows school districts to authorize personnel to carry a handgun on school property.  House Bill 2336, approved by the house in March 2019, now goes to the Governor.  Under the provisions of the legislation, school employees would be required to obtain a valid armed security guard license or hold a valid reserve peace officer certification.

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Safety Law News for April 9, 2019.

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In Pennsylvania, school resource officers in the Erie School District will begin carrying Tasers in schools after receiving training.  Under current policy, the Tasers will be used on intruders who enter school buildings and cause disturbances at events.  Policy does not allow use on students except in an extreme case.

In Connecticut, the Connecticut State Police are training police and educators to train parents on the dangers of social media.  The curriculum focuses on the risks of certain online apps and how keep juveniles safe online.  The list of troublesome apps includes apps like Whisper, Sarahah, Burn Book, Hot or Not, Kik, House Party, TikTok, Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox, Bumble, Grindr, Tinder, and Hidden Calculator.

In New York, a new agreement between the Lockport City School District and the City of Lockport will extend the SRO program into a 12-month job and increase funding to provide another officer. The school board approved the changes to allow the officers to more effectively build relationships and participate in school sponsored events.

In Ohio, school police and educators in southwest Ohio are receiving training on how to best combat the epidemic of vaping by students.  The training program was created by two students from the Butler Technology and Career Development School.  It includes advice such as watching for students who frequently complaining about headaches (a vaping withdrawal symptom), and extending prevention programs to elementary schools where children are at risk of flavored, nicotine-based inhalants.

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Safety Law News for April 5, 2019

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• In Tennessee, the legislature has made Tennessee the first state to fund the placement of a school resource officer in every public school.  House Bill 947 and Senate Bill 803 creates a recurring school safety grant fund of $40 million to place school resource officers in the nearly 500 schools that don’t currently have an officer on campus.

• In Utah, officials at the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake have created a mobile app that links students and parents to educators and school resource officers.  The Unified Police Department Mobile App allows users to click on links to report incidents, receive information, and obtain the phone number and email of the school resource officer.

• In Connecticut, over 300 Hamden residents have signed a petition opposing the plan of the mayor to fund two school resource officer positions for Hamden City elementary schools.  The parents believe that school-based police are not effective at making schools safer while minority student groups are negatively impacted by the presence of the police.

• In Florida, the Lee County School District plans to hire safety and security attendants to monitor restrooms at high schools.  School officials are trying to crack down on vaping and the malicious messages and threats on restroom walls.

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Safety Law News for April 2nd, 2019

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• In Illinois, the Illinois House passed a proposal for more campus safety resources and personnel.  HB 3244 would allow school districts to impose a tax to be used exclusively for school resource officers and mental health professionals.

• In Kentucky, the legislature sent to the governor Senate Bill 162.  Under the provisions of the law schools are authorized to hire retired state police officers to serve as school resource officers.

• In Connecticut, the mayor of the City of Hamden is offering to fund school resource officers for the elementary schools.  The two officers would rotate around the town’s eight elementary schools.  The school board is considering the proposal.

• In South Carolina, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department is implementing the Youth Arbitration Program (YAP) in response to its own Report that suggests that too many school-based arrests are occurring.  Under the YAP, all juveniles taken into custody by SROs are referred to YAP. This program allows the juvenile to receive counseling and other services without the fear of having a criminal record.

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Safety Law News for March 26, 2019

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• In Mississippi, the legislature and governor enacted House Bill 1283.  The new law expands funding for the Mississippi Community Oriented Policing Services in Schools program. This program implements the recommendation of the Governor’s task force that every school have a school resource officer — providing funds to every school district that qualifies.  The legislation also requires twice-yearly active shooter drills and implements a threat-reporting system to be monitored by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

• In Nebraska,  legislation has been introduced to require model policies and training for school districts that employ school resource officers.  LB 390 would establish statewide standards for school resource officers.  Training would be required on subjects including student rights and juvenile brain development.  School administrators would be required to attend the training sessions as well.

• In North Carolina, school-based law enforcement officers assigned to Winston-Salem and Forsyth County schools no longer wear traditional police uniforms.  The new uniform includes a blazer, polo shirt, tactical khakis, and tennis shoes. • In Texas,  the legislature  is proposing new safety requirements at schools and funding for mental health resources.  Under Senate Bill 11, school districts would be required to develop a safety plan, improve coordination with local law enforcement, and provide more mental health training for teachers.

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Safety Law News for March 21, 2019

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In North Carolina, House Bill 295 has been introduced to prohibit public schools and charter schools from using corporal punishment to discipline students.  Corporal punishment is currently legal in 19 states.

In Tennessee, House Bill 947 has been introduced by the Governor.  The legislation proposes a $30 million increase in the newly created school safety grant fund to enhance school safety.  The goal of the policy is to place school resources officers in nearly 500 schools that do not have an officer on campus, especially schools in rural areas.

In Washington D.C., the U.S. Department of Education has released guidance on what the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) permits and what it protects as to student privacy in schools that implement interagency safe schools plans.  The resource guide may be found on this link.

In Arkansas, the Arkansas Senate approved Senate Bill 383, sending it to the House for further action.  The legislation will allow schools to directly hire law enforcement officers as school resource officers. Currently, only law enforcement agencies employ school resource officers.