Legislature Considers Public Safety for All School Children

Gunmen won’t distinguish between public and private schools when going on a rampage – neither should state laws relating to public safety.

The Missouri Senate recognized the validity of this principal on Wednesday, May 9, when they adopted an amendment by Sen. Harry Kennedy (D-St. Louis City), that would provide competitive grants to public, private and parochial schools to assist them in making their premises safe from terrorists and other violent attackers.

The Kennedy amendment was adopted on a vote of 26-7. As amended with Kennedy’s amendment, HB 265 is expected to be given final approval by the Senate and returned to the House for that chamber’s review. The bill may well end up in a conference committee where the two chambers will sort out their differences.

At this time the conferees are not known, however, the sponsor of HB 265 is Rep. Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield). Sen. Scott Rupp (R-Wentzville) is the bill’s handler in the Senate. As a matter of tradition the bill’s sponsor and handler are routinely made chairs of the conference committee to negotiate differences between the two chambers. Rep. Cunningham is a long-time supporter of the rights of private school children however she may be under pressure to remove the “public safety for all school children” Kennedy amendment. Urge Rep. Cunningham to work to keep the Kennedy amendment in the bill. The senate handler of HB 265, Sen. Rupp, should also be urged to keep the Kennedy amendment intact.

Talking Points:

• Public safety should protect all school children regardless of where they attend school. Terrorists and gunmen wont distinguish between public and private schools, neither should state safety laws.
• The Kennedy amendment requires the schools to submit proposals demonstrating financial need. In other words, those schools with the most security needs are the ones who will be awarded grants.
• The Kennedy amendment requires schools to prepare detailed plans on how they will use the money to create a safe school environment. These plans must be submitted to the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
• The Kennedy amendment makes the competitive grant program subject to appropriations. Therefore, in lean budget years, the legislature can choose zero funding for the program and in other years the legislature can fund up to the limit of $9 million dollars. Because the program is subject to appropriation there is no negative fiscal note.

Action:

Contact Rep. Cunningham and Sen. Rupp and urge them to work to keep the Kennedy amendment in HB 265.

Phone: (573) 751-1186      Fax: (573) 526-9852      E-mail: jane.cunningham@house.mo.gov

Phone: (573) 751-1282      Fax: (573) 526-4766      E-mail: scott.rupp@senate.mo.gov