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Pennsylvania State Senate
04/23/2024 01:32 PM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20170&cosponId=25520
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: March 28, 2018 01:57 PM
From: Senator Patrick M. Browne and Sen. Vincent J. Hughes, Sen. Scott Martin
To: All Senate members
Subject: Establishing a Safe2Say Program for annonymous reporting of potential threats in schools
 
We will be introducing legislation establishing the Safe2Say Program that provides for methods of anonymous reporting concerning unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent or criminal activities in schools or the threat of the activities.

The Safe2Say Program is modeled after the Safe2Tell program that was created in Colorado in 1999 after the Columbine tragedy. Since its enactment, at least five other states have adopted similar programs, and Florida is currently working with the Colorado Safe2Tell office to set up a tip line there. According to data from Safe2Tell Colorado, 9,163 reports were received during the 2016-17 school year and more than 30,000 reports have been received since 2004. Between the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years, the number of reports received increased 58%.

The legislation requires the Attorney General to administer the act and to create procedures:
  • for anonymous reporting of unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent or criminal activities in schools or the threat of the activities;
  • to ensure that the identity of the individual making a report remain anonymous to any person, including law enforcement and employees of the Safe2Say Program Office;
  • to promptly forward any information received by the program to the appropriate law enforcement agency or school official;
  • to train individuals, such as emergency dispatch centers, local law enforcement and school personnel on appropriate awareness and response; and
  • to develop education materials and promote program awareness to participating school districts.
The program will cover emergency and non-emergency reports, and anyone can utilize the reporting mechanism. Colorado has found that the most common tip involves suicide threats but they also receive tips on bullying, drug use, cutting and depression as well as threats to schools.

We hope that you will join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation.

Introduced as SB1142