School Safety Bill Headed to Governor
Scarnati was able to secure over $8.5 million in this year’s budget for funding of school safety initiatives, in order to provide grants to Pennsylvania schools and municipalities to address the issue of school violence and improve school safety.
Senate Bill 10 was introduced by Senator Scarnati in February, in response in part to the tragic school shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, last December.
“Passage of Senate Bill 10 is a major accomplishment for Pennsylvania’s children, parents and educators,” Scarnati said. “I am grateful to my colleagues in the Senate and the House for understanding the necessity of this legislation, which will ensure the greatest level of security possible in our schools. Protecting our children is an issue of importance for every school district, urban, suburban and rural.”
Scarnati noted that this measure takes an important step to increase funding for school safety through the expansion of the Safe Schools Initiatives line of the annual state budget appropriation. Schools will be able to utilize the monies to enhance violence prevention programs and emergency preparedness initiatives, as well as to employ School Resource Officers or School Police Officers.
“Senate Bill 10 recognizes that the needs of each school district across our state are very diverse,” Scarnati said. “This legislation provides schools with the access to funding that they need, without placing any additional mandates on school districts. Local school administrators and public safety officials best understand how to provide for the safety of children and teachers within their schools.”
According to Scarnati, all 500 school districts across Pennsylvania are eligible to apply for the school safety grants. Local municipalities are also able to apply for grants for School Resource Officers on behalf of public and private schools within their region.
Scarnati explained that many school districts across Pennsylvania currently employ armed police and school resource officers. “These trained professionals provide an invaluable contribution to their schools, offering far more than just protection from physical harm,” Scarnati continued. “Such skilled school leaders also play a central role in creating a safer environment at academic institutions, by engaging students and preventing bullying.”
The Bradford Area School District already has two school resource officers but other districts in the area are looking into hiring officers of their own.
Senate Bill 10 was thoroughly vetted earlier this year during the Senate Education Committee and Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee joint hearings on the issue of school safety and violence prevention.
Scarnati said there has been significant support and encouragement for Senate Bill 10, from parents, teachers, school administrators, superintendents and public safety officials across the State. In addition, the bill is supported by the State Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA).
The grant program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Applications for Safe Schools Targeted Grants are submitted through the PDE E-Grants Website.
The House of Representatives unanimously approved this legislation on Monday. Senate Bill 10 will now be sent to the Governor for his signature.
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