An amended version of the School Safety and Resiliency Act is headed back to the Senate for consideration as the House voted 96-3 to approve it today.
House Majority Floor Leader Bam Carney, who carried the bill in the House and is a school teacher himself, shared how his experience as an educator has shaped his commitment to making Kentucky schools safer.
“After the horrific situation in Marshall County last year, action by this body was critical to move the ball forward on combatting violence in our schools,” Carney added. “This is a major bipartisan step toward securing our schools and strengthening our students. With passage of Senate Bill 1, the General Assembly has taken a bold step forward in improving the safety of schools across the Commonwealth.”
The School Safety and Resiliency Act is based on the findings of the School Safety Working Group, which was created in 2018 to gather feedback from stakeholders and put forward a framework to tackle the issue.
Remembering Marshall County High School (NKyTribune file photo)
SB 1 builds a framework to increase security within our schools, promote an increased culture of student connection and increase oversight and accountability of school safety efforts. The legislation sets a state goal of providing more trained law enforcement and school counselors in schools, while also creating a statewide school security marshal and requiring more active shooter and suicide prevention training, among numerous other items.
“I am most proud of the two-pronged approach that comes with this bill,” Carney added. “We’re hardening the target and making the school facility more secure, but we can never really address this issue until we talk about the mental health of our students. This is going to be so beneficial to not only school safety, but to the quality of life for our children.”
Carney added that the next step will come during the 2020 General Assembly. At that point, he said, legislators will have a better idea of what kind of funding will be necessary.
The House Chamber was unusually quiet during the bill’s consideration, with members sharing how they have been moved by the experiences of school shooting survivors. Legislators were visibly moved as Rep. Chris Freeland of Benton read aloud a letter from the family of Marshall County shooting victim Ryan Cope.
“First and foremost, we need to protect our children. Our society has changed over the years and we have to make changes in our schools as well. If we can protect our airports, government buildings and professional sports stadiums, then why can’t we protect our precious children,” Brian and Teresa Cope wrote in their letter.
House Committee Substitute 1 to SB 1 can be read in full here.
Legislative Research Commission
