Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 5. Source pages: 8.
A measure addressing threats of violence or terrorism at elementary and secondary schools, including the investigation and reporting of these events, and requiring mental health evaluations in these situations, has passed the House by a vote of 91 to 0. The measure is authored by Representative Tony Bacala andwas reported by substitute and became HB898 in April.
The measure would require school employees to report a “threat of violence” or a “threat of terrorism” to local law enforcement if there is a reasonable belief that the threat is credible and imminent or to school administrators if no reasonable belief exists so that further review can be made.
Each school board is to develop and implement investigative procedures for these threats, and to report the threat to law enforcement if there is a concern that the threat is credible and imminent.
The measure requires local law enforcement to investigate the threats and to report the threat to an authorized school official. If the suspect is a student, local law enforcement is required to petition the judicial district court for a mental health evaluation, and the student is prohibited from returning to school until receiving the evaluation.
If the suspect is not a student, the suspect is prohibited from being within 500 feet of any school until receiving a mental health evaluation and being deemed to not be a danger to himself or others.
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