School Safety Law Blog – Page 126 – News and Information for School Safety

Uncategorized

Safety Law News for 3/6/13

by Bernie James • March 6, 2013

The South Dakota legislature sent a bill to Gov. Dennis Daugaard that would allow school boards to place armed sentinels in their public schools as a safety measure if they choose.

South Carolina policymakers debate legislation that would provide the funding to hire school resource officers for every elementary school in the state at a cost of $80 million.

St. Petersburg, Florida SRO catches students on campus smoking marijuana while in possession of a loaded gun.

The Washington State Senate passed Senate Bill 5618 that, if enacted, would give a police officer serving as a school resource officer the right to search a student based on mere reasonable suspicion rather than probable cause. The legislation is intended to overrule a 2012 decision by the Washington Court Supreme Court (State v. Meneese, 174 Wn.2d 937, 282 P.3d 83) that rejected the school search exception to the warrant requirement for school resource officers.

Uncategorized

Safety Law News for 2/25/13

by Bernie James • February 25, 2013

• Hopkins County, Kentucky, Crime Stoppers program allows students to send a text message to school resource officers any time they feel unsafe.

• Arizona Teachers Association opposes Arizona House Bill 2656 that allows teachers to carry a weapon to class. Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne supports the bill.

• Kentucky legislature considers House Bill 135 that requires schools to adopt a comprehensive emergency plan and encourages local chiefs of police and sheriffs to receive more school and student safety training.

Uncategorized

Safety Law News for 2/20/13

by Bernie James • February 20, 2013

• Gadsden, Alabama officials seek to hire retired law enforcement officers for school resource officer positions at the city’s 13 school campuses. The City Council approved a proposal to allow the retired officers to serve.

• Under HB 0860, legislation, proposed by Tennessee officials, public school students would be able to fight back in defense of themselves and others without punishment. It is called the “The Student Self-Defense “ bill.

• North Carolina Superintendent says his request for more school resource officers is not ‘knee-jerk reaction’ to the Newtown shootings.

• Interagency agreement between the Denver Police Department and Denver Public Schools requires school resource officers to implement “restorative justice” techniques. SROs will write fewer citations and arrest only when absolutely necessary.

Uncategorized

Safety Law News for 2/18/13

by Bernie James • February 18, 2013

Mental health experts come out against school resource officers in schools.

Richmond, Rhode Island school officials and students openly support school resource officer. Students say they are not intimidated. Officials say SRO strikes balance between authority and compassion.

Wyoming legislature state Senate committee endorses school safety legislation that allocates $2.3 million to help districts hire police officers and creates a task force to develop uniform school safety and security plans.

Red Oak, Iowa Community School District rejects a proposal from police department to share the cost to create a school resource officer position for its high school. On day later, the high school is in lock down and the school district is seeking police assistance.

Uncategorized

Safety Law News for 2/15/13

by Bernie James • February 15, 2013

Indiana’s 2013 school safety legislation is approved in Senate Committee. It provides funding for three things: (1) conduct threat assessments of school buildings, (2) purchase safety equipment and technology and (3) hire school resource officers.

Washington State Senate approves the “Safe School Buildings” legislation that allocates $10 million over the next two years to protect schools.

The Natomas, California Unified School District decided unanimously to put school resources officers back on school campuses, to the happy approval of its residents.

Parents at a Scottsdale, Arizona K-8 private school have decided to pay about $10,000 a month to pay for the full-time school resource officer on campus.

Uncategorized

Safety Law News 2/13/13

by Bernie James • February 13, 2013

After a massive public protest, Moorestown, New Jersey, officials halt the reassignment of a school resource officer. Police and township officials said privately that they were astonished at the groundswell of support for the SRO.

After a middle school student was shot, Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent renews his demand to have a full-time school resource officer in every school.

Wilson County, Tennessee School Board votes unanimously to pay for eight additional student resource officers so that all 19 of its schools would have a police presence.

Cleveland, Ohio school district to redesign main entrances to elementary schools to ensure optimal school security. The remodeling projects will include a secure entrance with buzzer-locked doors.