MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Representative Manning

AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND SCHOOL SAFETY; TO REQUIRE THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO APPOINT A TASK FORCE TO STUDY SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND SCHOOL SAFETY ISSUES AND TO SUBMIT A REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE BEFORE THE 2000 SESSION; TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A RAPID RESPONSE TEAM WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING ON SITE ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS DURING SCHOOL EMERGENCIES; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM UNDER WHICH GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A TOLL FREE LOCAL SCHOOL SAFETY HOTLINE; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM UNDER WHICH GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EMPLOYING SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS; TO REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO REPORT ALL ACTS OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The State Superintendent of Public Education shall appoint a task force to study school violence and school safety issues relating to the public schools of Mississippi. The task force shall be comprised of the following members:

(a) An employee or employees of the State Department of Education knowledgeable about school violence and safety issues;

(b) Representatives of law enforcement agencies;

(c) A child psychiatrist or psychologist;

(d) A local school district superintendent;

(e) A principal of a local school;

(f) A teacher from a local school district;

(g) The administrator of an alternative school program; and

(h) Representatives of any other organizations or associations deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education. The task force shall study the problems surrounding violence in the schools and shall explore possible means to alleviate such violence and increase school safety. Before November 1, 1999, the task force shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Education Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

SECTION 2. The State Superintendent of Public Education shall establish a "Rapid Response Team" within the State Department of Education. The team shall be comprised of department employees who, upon the direction of the superintendent, shall respond on site to school safety emergencies resulting from acts of violence occurring within a school or at a school-related event. The Rapid Response Team shall provide assistance to a school district and the community during a school crisis resulting from an act of violence and shall work with the school district to develop a plan to provide appropriate counseling services to students and school personnel.

SECTION 3. The State Department of Education shall implement a pilot program under which a "local school safety hotline" shall be established in certain school districts. The local school safety hotline shall be an incoming toll free telephone number within those school districts participating in the program which shall be available for persons in the district to immediately report acts of school violence to the appropriate school officials. Under the pilot program, the State Department of Education shall award grants to participating school districts for the purpose of establishing and operating the local school safety hotline. The department shall prescribe rules and regulations for participation in the program, including application requirements. In selecting participants, special consideration shall be given to those districts characterized by a high incidence of school violence.

SECTION 4. The State Department of Education shall establish and implement a pilot program under which grants are awarded to local school districts for the purpose of employing school resource officers. The department shall prescribe the duties of the school resource officers and rules and regulations for participation in the pilot program, including application requirements. In selecting participants, special consideration shall be given to those school districts characterized by a high incidence of school violence.

SECTION 5. The State Department of Education shall develop a central reporting system for maintaining information concerning acts of school violence. In establishing and maintaining the system, the department shall require each school district to report each act of violence occurring on school property or at a school-related event. The department shall develop a form for the reporting of such events and shall prescribe the specific information that must be reported concerning each act of school violence. Any information maintained by the department under this section shall be confidential and shall not be available to the general public.

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.