Title: An act relating to a school safety advisory committee.

Brief Description: Creating the school safety advisory committee.

Sponsors: Senators Eide, Zarelli, Rockefeller, Kohl-Welles, Shin and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education:

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

Staff: Kimberly Cushing (786-7421)

Background: In the 2001-02 budget, the Washington Legislature established a School Safety Center (Safety Center) in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Safety Center's requirements included disseminating successful models of school safety plans, providing assistance to schools to establish a comprehensive safe school plan, coordinating activities relating to school safety, and maintaining a school safety information web site. In addition, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) was directed to participate in a School Safety Center Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee) that included representatives from a wide variety of stakeholders in education and law enforcement. The Advisory Committee was directed to select a chair and develop a training program for all school safety personnel. The Advisory Committee has been identified in the budget in the subsequent bienniums.

In 2007 the Legislature required school districts to adopt a safe school plan that used training guidance provided by the Washington Emergency Management Division, the Safety Center, and the Advisory Committee. Additionally, a task force on gangs was created to examine gang activities affecting school safety. The task force was directed to work under the guidance of the Safety Center, the Advisory Committee, and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

Summary of Bill: A new chapter under Title 28A is created for the School Safety Advisory Committee, which is established to evaluate school safety proposals and advise the Legislature and the SPI on the implementation of best practices for school safety in Washington. The Advisory Committee consists of 27 voting members from specified entities. The members must serve four-year terms, and the Chair must be selected by a majority vote of the members. The Advisory Committee must meet at the request of the Chair and at least four times a year. Subject to funding, the Chair may hire staff to support the Advisory Committee.

A school safety advisory committee account is created in the custody of the State Treasurer. Funds deposited in this account, which may include funds from any source, must be transferred to the Advisory Committee solely for the purposes identified in the bill. Only the Chair, or Chair's designee, may authorize expenditures from the account. An appropriation is not required for expenditures.

The Advisory Committee must review all matters pertaining to school safety proposed by all entities represented by voting members, except the Legislature, before they are submitted to the Legislature. In addition, the Advisory Committee must assist in addressing emerging issues of safety and develop a training program for all school safety personnel. The Criminal Justice Training Commission with the Advisory Committee must provide the school safety training for all school administrators and school safety personnel. The Advisory Committee must also develop and distribute a pamphlet to promote internet safety for children, particularly in 7th through 12th grades. The pamphlet must be posted on SPI's web site.

Beginning December 1, 2008, the Advisory Committee must annually report to the education and fiscal committees of the Legislature regarding school safety policies and procedures.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 23, 2008.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.