• In Texas, the Huffman ISD Board of Trustees approved the creation of the Huffman ISD Police Department, starting in the 2020-2021 school year. The Superintendent and the Board believe that creating a police department “will give us the opportunity to take our security measures to the next level.”
• In New Mexico, House Bill 184 has been signed into law. The provisions of the law create funding for resources to and training of school resource officers. It requires law enforcement officers who work as school resource officers be specifically trained for the position, including receiving training in de-escalation techniques and adolescent-specific issues.
• In Maryland, the University of Baltimore Law Review has issued a Report on the current state of school safety law in Maryland. The Report highlights the Maryland Safe to Learn Act and the policy objectives of the pending legislation on Guidelines on Trauma-Informed Approach Bill (H.B. 256).
• In South Carolina, the Beaufort County School Board is considering a plan that would put armed security personnel in every public school, including elementary schools. At least 15 schools, all elementary schools, do not have SROs. Efforts to fill the positions are limited by a short supply of eligible officers, who must go through specific training.