Bill Text: DE SCR129 | 2021-2022 | 151st General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: Creating The School Violence Prevention Task Force To Make Findings And Recommendations To Ensure Students And Teachers Are Safe From Violence At School.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-06-30 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES [SCR129 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2021-SCR129-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Sen. Bonini & Rep. Yearick |
DELAWARE STATE SENATE
151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 129
CREATING THE SCHOOL VIOLENCE PREVENTION TASK FORCE TO MAKE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE SAFE FROM VIOLENCE AT SCHOOL.
WHEREAS, over the past several years, Delaware’s students have increasingly reported experiencing peer harassment and violence; and
WHEREAS, during the 2018-2019 school year, there were 411 substantiated bullying incidents in Delaware public schools; and
WHEREAS, statistics reported by the state Department of Education show that 5,726 students, or 3.88%, statewide were involved in acts of violence in the academic year 2020-2021 - those acts are defined by a federal entity and range from terroristic threatening to assault; and
WHEREAS, parents often express school safety concerns on social media and through news outlets; and
WHEREAS, legislative offices often receive reports of violence in schools towards students and teachers; and
WHEREAS, schools are mostly safe places, but when violence does occur, it can have far-reaching ramifications; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that children and teachers feel safe at school to ensure adequate learning can occur.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 151 st General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the Delaware School Violence Prevention Task Force (“Task Force”) is created to make findings and recommendations to address ways the state, schools, and communities can create safe and secure environments where learning can be prioritized.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force rigorously evaluate school safety strategies by preparing comprehensive recommendations regarding the following:
(1) In collaboration with parents and key partners from education, law enforcement, behavioral/mental health, and social work, develop and test a comprehensive framework for school safety.
(2) Identify a unifying, research-based approach to school safety.
(3) Develop a clearinghouse of resources.
(4) Improve communication and information sharing.
(5) Effectively integrate and utilize school resource officers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is comprised of the following members, or a designee selected by a member serving by virtue of position:
(1) One member of the majority caucus and 1 member of the minority caucus of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The President Pro Tempore shall appoint 1 member as the chair.
(2) One member of the majority caucus and 1 member of the minority caucus of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker shall appoint 1 member as chair.
(3) Three members of the public, one from each county, who has a child enrolled in a Delaware private, public, or charter school, appointed by the President Pro Tempore.
(4) Three teachers, one from each county, who teach at Delaware private, public, or charter school, appointed by the President Pro Tempore.
(5) Secretary of the Department of Education.
(6) Executive Director of the Delaware State Education Association.
(7) Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services.
(8) President of the Delaware School Board Association.
(9) Executive Director of the Delaware Association of School Administrators.
(10) Superintendent of the Delaware State Police.
(11) Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a member of the Task Force with the ability to designate another individual to attend a Task Force meeting, must provide the designation in writing to the chair. An individual attending a meeting for a member as a designee has the same duties and rights as the member.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate notify the individuals authorized to appoint members to the Task Force of their appointing authority.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair of the Task Force be responsible for guiding the administration of the Task Force by, at minimum, doing all of the following:
(1) Setting a date, time, and place for initial Task Force meeting.
(2) Supervising the preparation and distribution of Task Force meeting notices, agendas, minutes, correspondence, and reports.
(3) Sending the President Pro Tempore, the Speaker of the House, and the Director of the Division of Research of Legislative Council, after the first meeting of the Task Force, a list of the members of the Task Force and the person who appointed them.
(4) Providing meeting notices, agendas, and minutes to the Director of the Division of Research of Legislative Council.
(5) Ensuring that the final report of the Task Force is submitted to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with copies to all members of the General Assembly, the Governor, the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council, and the Delaware Public Archives.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force must hold its first meeting no later than 60 days after passage.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a quorum of the Task Force is a majority of its members.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that:
(1) Official action by the Task Force, including making findings and recommendations, requires approval of a quorum of the Task Force.
(2) The Task Force may adopt rules necessary for its operation. If the Task Force does not adopt rules or if the adopted rules do not govern a given situation, Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure controls.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly is responsible for providing reasonable and necessary support staff and materials for the Task Force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair must issue a final report containing a summary of the Task Force’s work regarding the issues assigned to it, including any findings and recommendations, and submit the report to the General Assembly, the Governor, and the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council not later than October 31, 2022.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Concurrent Resolution expires 90 days after the Task Force’s first meeting.
SYNOPSIS
This concurrent resolution creates the School Violence Prevention Task Force to make findings and recommendations to ensure students and teachers are safe from violence at school.
Author: Senator Bonini
