School safety legislative package calls for mandatory suspension
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Republican leaders of Georgia's House of Representatives want schools and law enforcement to use a statewide database to share concerns about students who might pose a safety threat.
Why it matters: State legislative action was expected following the fatal shooting of two students and two teachers last September at Apalachee High School in Barrow County.
Driving the news: House Speaker Jon Burns on Monday released details of his plan, which would require schools to participate in a statewide database to "collect and integrate data to evaluate the behavior" of students "who may pose a threat."
- Operated by the Georgia Emergency and Management and Homeland Security Agency, the database would maintain "the highest standards of student information privacy," Burns said in a press release.
- It would also allow relevant student data to be shared between school systems, law enforcement and mental healthcare professionals, "ensuring that students receive the resources they need no matter where they are in the state."
Zoom in: Additional measures include ...
- "Threat assessment teams" to develop plans
- Anonymous reporting apps
- $50 million for safety improvements
- A tax credit for eligible trigger lock and safe storage purchases
- And mandatory suspension for students who allegedly make threats.
Yes, and: Burns' legislation would also mandate instruction in violence prevention and suicide awareness, plus task a mental health coordinator with the primary responsibility of identifying and intervening with students "who are at risk of mental health concerns."
Caveat: The speaker's announcement did not specify whether the state or local districts would fund the mental health coordinator positions and other measures.
The big picture: Republicans and Democrats have traditionally approached school safety differently.
- GOP leaders previously introduced proposals to allow educators to carry guns or take firearm training.
- Democrats have favored policy changes to reduce young people's access to guns, including safe storage laws.
What they're saying: "This school safety plan is a comprehensive approach to securing our school buildings, prioritizing the mental health of our children and keeping Georgia's students safe," Burns said in a statement.