Bill Text: MS HB474 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: School security and campus safety; create task force to study growing incidences of school violence and enhanced safety measures.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [HB474 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2014-HB474-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Education; Public Health and Human Services
By: Representative Miles
House Bill 474
AN ACT TO CREATE THE SCHOOL SECURITY AND CAMPUS SAFETY TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TASK FORCE; TO SET FORTH THE DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
WHEREAS, in the aftermath of the heartbreaking tragedy that devastated Newtown, Connecticut, and the nation, Mississippians stand united behind the families and friends of those affected by the loss of so many innocent lives. Indeed, the similarities between this horrific attack and the tragic 1997 shootings at Pearl High School have left many in the state searching for understanding, solutions, and ideas on how to prevent such violence in our country; and
WHEREAS, the impact of this recent event is not confined to Connecticut. Nor is the grief and outrage confined to Colorado, Arizona, Virginia or to any other state that shares the burden of grieving for innocent victims lost at the hands of a depraved gunman or group that inexplicably chooses to take human lives en masse in a school, on a campus, or in a public forum; and
WHEREAS, public safety is a primary responsibility of government - whether it is at the federal, state, or local level, and in the aftermath of the shocking and senseless shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, it is incumbent upon all local and state leaders that play a role in school or campus safety to review the procedures, plans, policies and resources dedicated to the safety of students, faculty and the public; and
WHEREAS, we owe it to our children and young people to provide safe and secure learning environments, and the recent tragedy highlights the timeliness of conducting a comprehensive plan to review school safety at all levels, and to identify gaps and critical resource needs at the state, local, school division, and college/university levels to ensure that we, as elected legislative officials, are doing everything humanly possible to keep our children, young people, educators and administrators safe while they are in the classroom and on our campuses; and
WHEREAS, we have seen the devastating effects that an individual with criminal intent or mental health problems can have on our citizens. Though the majority of individuals with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than the perpetrators, we must improve our ability to minimize any risk of harm to oneself or others resulting from serious mental illness and utilize mental health services to prevent violence before danger arises. This is an area that cannot be overlooked when addressing school and campus safety; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature has an obligation to all students, parents, educators, administrators, support staff and every citizen of the State of Mississippi to provide the safest possible learning environment; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The School Security and Campus Safety Task Force is created to study and make recommendations to the Legislature regarding how to combat school violence and enhance school safety, how to identify those predisposed to violent tendencies or mental behavioral disorders, how to react in times of emergency to ensure maximum security and minimum fatality, and ways to improve the delivery and coordination of education to law enforcement emergency first responder services in times of extreme safety crisis. Members of the task force shall be composed of the following:
(a) The State Superintendent of Public Education;
(b) The director of the Safe and Orderly Schools;
(c) The Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety;
(d) The Commissioner of the Department of Corrections;
(e) The director of the Youth Services Division of the Department of Human Services;
(f) The executive director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency;
(g) The Attorney General;
(h) The executive director of the Department of Mental Health;
(i) The State Health Officer of the Department of Health;
(j) The Commissioner of Higher Education;
(k) At least six (6) representatives of law enforcement or other first responders, to include a representative of school resource officers, to be appointed by the Governor, with two (2) members representing each state Supreme Court District;
(l) At least six (6) representatives of elementary, secondary and higher education, representing administrators, educators, counselors and security personnel, to be appointed by the Governor, with two (2) members representing each state Supreme Court District;
(m) Two (2) high school students, one (1) of which who attends a public high school, and one (1) of which who attends a private high school, to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education;
(n) Two (2) student attending a Mississippi college or university, one (1) of which who attends a public college or university, and one (1) of which who attends a private college or university, to be appointed by the Commissioner of Higher Education;
(o) Two (2) parents with at least one child currently in a Mississippi elementary, secondary or post-secondary school, to be appointed by the Governor; and
(p) Two members of the Mississippi House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker; and
(q) Two members of the Mississippi Senate, to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
(2) The task force shall:
(a) Evaluate school safety audits that have already been conducted and identify best practices that schools or divisions have implemented that would be helpful to all and review any audit findings that have not been addressed;
(b) Recommend improvements to K-12 school safety protocols and procedures to ensure an even safer learning
environment;
(c) Identify ways to improve and expand the use of school resource officers and school security officers in Mississippi's public schools;
(d) Recommend a mechanism for schools and localities to identify and share the best practices for improved school safety on an ongoing and continuing basis;
(e) Suggest additional resources, programs or tools that the State Department of Education could make available to Mississippi's local school districts and schools;
(f) Create and identify any needed improvements to a school safety audit program to allow for better information gathering and sharing;
(g) Recommend needed improvements to campus safety policies or procedures at Mississippi's public and private colleges, community colleges and universities;
(h) Coordinate with the Mental Health Workgroup of the Task Force, described in subsection (3) of this section, and review the workgroup's recommendations;
(i) Examine current laws and regulations to identify gaps relating to school and campus safety and provide timely recommendations for legislative or budget amendments; and
(j) Review the recommendations set forth in previous state and national reports and studies and provide strategies for implementation of relevant, realistic recommendations that would enhance school or campus safety.
(3) The State Health Officer, and executive directors of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Mental Health shall convene a mental health workgroup to evaluate Mississippi's mental health system to recommend improvements for identification, intervention, and treatment of behavioral and mental disabilities with a focus on ways to prevent acts of violence. Given the significant medical and legal complexities associated with this law, the Attorney General of Mississippi and the executive director of the Department of Mental Health shall serve as co-chairs of this workgroup. Members of the workgroup shall be named by the executive director of the Department of Mental Health, bringing together experts from the mental health community. The work plan shall be devised by the executive director of the Department of Mental Health and the State Health Officer and presented at its first meeting. The workgroup shall make recommendations to the task force and present a copy of its recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature.
(4) The task force shall hold its first meeting not later than May 1, 2014, with the date, time and location of the meeting to be designated by the Governor. The task force shall be co-chaired by the State Superintendent of Public Education, the Commissioner of Public Safety and the executive director of the Department of Mental Health. At that first meeting, the task force also shall elect any other officers determined to be necessary, and shall set the date, time and location of its next meeting.
(4) The State Department of Education shall provide the staff and other support necessary for the School Security and Campus Safety Task Force to perform its duties.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
