Posted on October 21, 2019.
Bi-Partisan bill focuses on best practices for school safety design
U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA) and Doug Jones (D-AL) in September introduced the School Safety Clearinghouse Act – a bi-partisan bill that focuses on best practices for school safety design and allocates a funding source to put those plans into motion.
According to the proposed legislation, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would manage a federally funded and housed informational resource on school safety. Local and state officials could access it and be provided with the tools and information they need to design safer schools. Recommendations from architects, engineers, first responders, building security experts and mental health advocates would be included in the clearinghouse after being federally validated.
"Providing a coordinated approach of best practice models that address the safety of the students, staff and visitors of our nation’s schools is critical,” SBC Executive Director Alan Perdue says. “An equally important aspect of this proposed legislation is the funding source to make it a reality that will deliver results. Safer new and existing buildings are vital to our future."
"The STOP School Violence Act gives many school districts access to state and federal funding to improve school security. The School Safety Clearinghouse Act will help districts make better decisions about how to use this funding," SBC's Managing Director John Foley adds.
So far this year, there have been 22 shootings at schools across the country where someone has been injured or killed, according to CNN.
Further reading:
Clearinghouse Act Press Release:
https://www.perdue.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-perdue-jones-introduce-bipartisan-school-safety-bill
STOP School Violence Act
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4909
