School Security (H 7850)

There were a number of bills this year seeking to improve school security by imposing law enforcement-type enforcement measures into the school setting. Among those was a proposal requiring that ten percent of school aid be allocated to school safety measures. The ACLU testified before the House Finance Committee in May that the legislation was well-intended, but raised serious concerns about the over-criminalization of youthful behavior. School resource officers are increasingly used to provide routine school discipline, often escalating minor infractions into arrests, and research paints a very nuanced picture of the effect these officers have on school safety. The committee did not vote on the proposal.