New bill would encourage more school security officers

INDIANAPOLIS (WLFI) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced Thursday he supports a bill that pushes school corporations to enter into formal relationships with local law enforcement. The relationships would put in place school resource officers by providing state grant funding.

Although the bill, filed by State Senator Pete Miller, was not originally intended as a response to the Newtown, Conn., tragedy on Dec. 14, 2012, Zoeller and Miller noted the legislation would become state government’s first formal proposal to address increased school safety in Indiana in the wake of the tragedy.

School resource officers usually are full-time law enforcement officers assigned to a school to focus on overall safety, assist with student discipline and provide mentoring opportunities.

The legislation filed by Miller would create uniformity in the standards and duties for school resource officers. The bill would make grants available to schools that don’t currently have a resource officer agreement in place and offer funding support to schools with existing programs.

“In light of the recent tragic events in Connecticut, we know school safety is a subject parents and the public are very concerned about,” Zoeller said. “In a needs assessment researching school safety last fall, educators and law enforcement leaders indicated they would like to make school resource officers available in more schools. Many have asked, ‘What can Indiana do now to enhance school safety?’ and this is something legislators can do early in 2013.”

“This proposal would be a good first step to meet an immediate need and expand resource officers into schools that don’t already have them, and still give the Legislature and Executive Branch the opportunity to look at other more long-term comprehensive safety options,” Miller said.

"The Department of Education strives to support and provide our schools, teachers and administrators with all the tools and resources they need to create a safe and positive learning environment for our students," State Superintendent-elect Glenda Ritz said. "And that is why I believe that Attorney General Zoeller’s and State Senator Miller’s proposed legislation to support and expand the School Resource Officer program will help in the identification and prevention of bullying, and ensure that our schools, personnel, and students are safe and secure. In addition, I will be working with Governor-elect Pence to assess our schools' safety and security protocols.”

Miller, R-Avon, filed his bill Thursday (Senate bill 270), which will be considered by the 2013 Indiana General Assembly. Miller is a member of the Senate Education and Career Development Committee.

It is estimated that at least one quarter to one third of Indiana school corporations already have resource officers.

Miller’s legislation that Zoeller supports would write a definition into state law that would specify school resource officers must be either school corporation employees or law enforcement officers with a police agency who work on contract for the school, and they must complete a training program and obtain certification.

The bill would define their duties as (1) assisting with implementing the school’s safety plan and supporting the school safety specialist program, (2) promoting a safe school environment through reduction in crime and rule violations, (3) acting as liaison to local law enforcement, (4) detecting and addressing bullying, (5) participating in law-related educational programs when needed and (6) serving as a mentor to students.

Each year, resource officers would complete an annual report that would allow for evaluation of their efforts

As currently drafted, the bill would appropriate $10 million into the Indiana Safe School Fund from which state grants could be awarded.

Any school corporation or charter school could apply for a state grant of up to $50,000 a year for two years, to create or formalize such positions.

To qualify for a grant, a school corporation would have to pay a portion of the officer costs that, when combined with the portion paid by local law enforcement, would equal 50 percent of the total costs. The 50-50 local match is so that positions would be adequately funded to employ full-time qualified officers.

Miller said the funding source is conceptual at this point and he expects final funding details to be adjusted during the normal give-and-take of the legislative process.

“The grant funding would be intended as seed money to expand the use of resource officers around the state on an interim basis, with the idea that after two years the positions could either be funded locally or through other sources as the Legislature designates,” Miller said.

By facilitating grant funding, Senate Bill 270 encourages school corporations to build or enhance working relationships with their local police or sheriff’s department.

Participation in the grant program would be voluntary and based on local need; school boards would not