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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 5, 2015 09:47 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Cherelle L. Parker |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Duty to Report Lost and Stolen Weapons to a Student's School |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to help educators and law enforcement improve the safety of our students while at school by requiring parents to report lost or stolen weapons to their child’s educational institution. From kindergarten to college, our students’ safety while pursuing their vitally important education has become an issue of grave concern in recent years. Last session, I was privileged to serve as Vice Chair of the House Select Committee on School Safety and Security, which was formed to investigate, review, and make recommendations regarding safety and security practices at the Commonwealth’s educational institutions. The Select Committee conducted four hearings across the state and received testimony from a wide array of stakeholders representing the many professionals that play a critical role in providing an effective learning environment for our children at all levels of education. In response to questions during the hearings, testifiers appearing on behalf of law enforcement unanimously agreed that it would be beneficial for public safety purposes for parents and guardians of students to report when a weapon, as defined by the Public School Code, in their household has been lost or stolen. Accordingly, my legislation would require parents or guardians of students at public schools and institutions of higher education to report the loss or theft of weapons, as defined by the Public School Code, to the individual at their student’s school designated to receive this information. Parents or guardians would be required to report this information to local law enforcement as well. Failure to report a lost or stolen weapon would not result in a criminal or civil penalty. However, parents or guardians could be held civilly liable for injuries inflicted with the lost or stolen weapon. Please join me in improving the safety of our students by enacting this simple measure that would provide additional assistance for those responsible for protecting our children while they are at school. Thank you for your support of this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1519