Important Legislation Enhances School Safety
Note: House Ways And Means Committee to Hold Hearing on HB 1816 on March 22, 2018, 1:00 PM
“But prayers are not enough. Although our pain remains fresh and the facts remain uncertain, today’s horrible events should not be an excuse to pause our conversation about school safety. Instead, it must serve as a call to action.” - Governor Larry Hogan, March 20, 2018
Safe Schools Act Of 2018
Governor Hogan’s Proposed Legislation Establishes, For The First Time In State History, Statewide School Safety Standards, Including Required Training And Certification For All School Resource Officers And Security Staff. “Each county board shall employ a designated security administrator. Each designated security administrator shall be certified by the Maryland Center for School Safety. School resource officers shall be certified by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission. The State Board in consultation with the Maryland Center for School Safety, shall adopt regulations that relate to the training and certification of designated security administrators and other school safety personnel. The Maryland Center for School Safety shall develop curriculum and training that will be approved and used by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission for certification and training of school resource officers.” (“House Bill 1816,” Maryland General Assembly, 3/7/18)
Under The Proposed Legislation, County School Boards Are Required To Prepare School Emergency Plans To Address Behavioral Threats And Emergency Events. “Each county board shall prepare a school emergency plan that includes detailed plans for the manner in which public schools in the county will address: Behavioral threats; and Emergency events. Each school emergency plan prepared in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be submitted to the Maryland Center for School Safety for review. The Maryland Center for School Safety shall transmit to the State Board a school emergency plan submitted for review, along with any recommended amendments to the plan. The State Board shall either approve, reject, or propose amendments to a school emergency plan.” (“House Bill 1816,”Maryland General Assembly, 3/7/18)
The Safe Schools Act Of 2018 Establishes The Safe Schools Fund; Fund Will Assist To Implement Emergency Plans And Additional School Safety Improvements. “There is a Safe Schools Fund. The purpose of the Fund is to provide grants to county boards for the implementation of approved school emergency plans and other safety improvements recommended by the Maryland Center for School Safety.” (“House Bill 1816,” Maryland General Assembly, 3/7/18)
The Governor’s Proposed Commitment To Education Act Of 2018 Includes $125 Million For School Safety Capital Grants And $50 Million Annually For The Safe Schools Fund. “$125,000,000 for school safety capital costs grants, as recommended by the Interagency Committee on School Construction and approved by the Board of Public Works; $50,000,000 for the Safe Schools Fund established under § 7-1605 of the Education Article for school safety grants…” (“Senate Bill 1258,” Maryland General Assembly, 3/7/18)
Following The Horrific School Shooting In St. Mary’s County, Governor Hogan Reiterated The Importance Of Passing The Safe Schools Act Of 2018
The Safe Schools Act Of 2018 Is “One Of The Most Aggressive School Safety Plans In The Country.” It Will Allow For Funding To Be Available For Well-Trained School Resource Officers And Mental Health Counselors.GOVERNOR HOGAN: “We need more than prayers. I want to thank these first responders and law enforcement officers for the job they did, but we need more, we’ve got to take action. We’ve got one of the most aggressive school safety plans in America that we introduced several weeks ago as emergency legislation in Annapolis…We put $125 million into school safety, $50 million a year into additional school resource officers, like the great deputy sheriff that saved further people from being injured and killed today, but not every school has that opportunity, and more mental health counselors.” (Press Conference, 3/20/18)
Governor Hogan Took Immediate Action This Session To Address School Safety Concerns Around The State
Governor Hogan Included $2 Million In His Fiscal Year 2019 Budget For Security Improvements At Jewish And Muslim Schools At Risk Of Hate Crimes. “Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s fiscal 2019 budget proposal includes $2 million for security enhancements at schools and child-care centers, a response to an increase in hate crimes in recent years. If the funds are approved by the Maryland General Assembly, institutions perceived to be vulnerable to hate crimes or attacks would be able to apply for grants to upgrade facilities, hire security guards and teach safety training. Leaders from the region’s Jewish and Muslim communities championed the proposal in a release Thursday issued by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.” (Rachel Siegal, “Hogan Allocates $2 Million In Budget Proposal To Protect Schools From Hate Crimes,” The Washington Post, 1/18/19)
Governor Hogan Submitted A $5 Million Supplemental Budget Toward Important Initiatives To Enhance School Safety. “Governor Larry Hogan today submitted a supplemental budget that will provide increased funding for the Maryland Center for School Safety, the state’s office tasked with providing a coordinated and comprehensive policy for school safety in Maryland… The governor’s supplemental budget provides $2.5 million in operating funds to the center to hire analysts and social media trackers and allocate personnel and resources in more regions of the state. Center personnel will assist schools in conducting safety assessments and implementing new safety standards required by the governor’s emergency legislation announced earlier this week… The supplemental budget also provides $2.5 million in grant funding that will go directly to schools to conduct the required assessments, with oversight from the center.” (Press Release, “Governor Larry Hogan Submits $5 Million Supplemental Budget To Enhance Safety In Maryland Schools,”Office Of The Governor, 3/2/18)
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6 comments:
but i thought that whole gun free zone law was going to make the schools safe, that`s what the politicians told us. the same politicians who were wrong about that are going to pass new laws that will " make school zones safe"? they were wrong at least once so why should we trust that they are right this time? seems pretty obvious that they are passing laws on a trial and error basis, is that what we are paying them for? is that what we expect from them? they are supposed to be the best and brightest, if they are just working on a trial and error basis then we could elect a common homeless bum off the street that would do an equally good job of trial and error.
should have never did away with spanking a brat.
now, look at the schools and behaviors
WOW all that money and not one ounce of common sense.
In other words, follow laws and procedures already on the books, here's fifty million dollars.
If they do not lock down the schools and control as best as possible who comes and goes this will not stop. I am all for the armed police and staff, but we need to control the "border."
I agree if they don't find a way to lock those schools down and prevent entrance thru those doors then this will not stop. security begins before you hit the doors. For all entering! a armed teacher is dangerous. Armed security, yes...armed teachers not a good idea. Some of them are looney to.
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