Common-sense Legislation CAN

KEEP SCHOOLS SAFE

Congressman COOK

FOR Combat School Violence

March 14, 2018

Washington D.C.   

U.S. Representative Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley) voted Wednesday for HR 4909, the Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act. The bipartisan bill passed the House with overwhelming support.

The STOP School Violence Act creates a grant program to train students, teachers, school officials, and local law enforcement about how to identify and intervene early when signs of violence arise, creates a coordinated reporting system, and implements school threat assessment protocols to prevent school shootings before they happen.

Specifically, the Bill provides funding to prevent student violence against others and themselves and includes prevention training and active shooter training designed to give students and school personnel the ability to recognize and respond quickly to warning signs of school violence.

It also includes funding for technology and equipment to improve school security including the development and operation of anonymous reporting systems, such as mobile apps, a hotline, and a website. Funding could also be used for metal detectors, locks, and other technologies to keep schools safe.

Lastly, the STOP School Violence Act provides funding to support law enforcement coordination efforts, and, in particular, those officers who already staff schools.

Representative Paul Cook said, “This common-sense legislation provides significant new resources to keep our schools safe. School should be an environment where students feel safe from the threat of violence. This Bill HR 4909 will provide our schools and law-enforcement with the tools they need to prevent acts of violence before they occur. I hope the Senate passes this Bill and that the President signs it promptly.”