House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

Posted:	June 18, 2013 04:09 PM
From:	Representative Margo L. Davidson
To:	All House members
Subject:	Office of Safe School Legislation - Former HB 1078

In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation that seeks to improve school safety. Last session, the House of Representatives passed this proposal – House Bill 1078 – unanimously (196-0), but the Senate failed to act. My legislation would give the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office of Safe Schools the power and duty to develop telephone hotlines, as well as Internet notification systems, to ensure the anonymity of callers. The legislation would also update the duties of the State Board of Education to further identify emerging higher education issues and needs, recommend strategies, and outline a Master Plan for Higher Education. The telephone hotlines and Internet notification systems developed by the Office of Safe Schools could be used especially by students, but also by any other member of the community, to report dangerous situations involving schools to the appropriate authorities. While it is not uncommon for students to know about the potential for violent events before they occur, they often don’t share the information because they are afraid. This anonymous hotline removes that threat. Similar programs have been created in various other states, such as Alabama, Colorado, and Michigan. I hope that you will join with me to help foster a safer learning environment for all children, as well as an updated master plan for higher education, by co-sponsoring this important legislation.
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Introduced as HB1801