Goodlatte applauds House passage of the STOP School Violence Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved by a vote of 407-10 the Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act of 2018. This bipartisan bill, introduced by Judiciary Committee Member Representative John Rutherford (R-Fla.), creates a grant program administered by the Department of Justice to train students, teachers, school personnel, and local law enforcement how to identify and intervene early when signs of violence arise, creates an anonymous reporting system, and implements school threat assessment protocols to prevent school shootings from occurring. This bill also incorporates key elements from legislation introduced by Representatives Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Kay Granger (R-Texas), Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Luke Messer (R-Ind.), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), and Susan Brooks (R-Ind.).

Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, praised today’s House approval of the STOP School Violence Act:

“Violence at schools makes students feel vulnerable in a place where they should feel safe. To curb violence at our nation’s schools, the STOP School Violence Act provides a multi-layered approach to identify threats and prevent violence from taking place on school grounds. It provides much-needed resources to train students, teachers, and law enforcement officers on how to recognize and respond quickly to warning signs and provides funding for technology to keep schools secure. The bill also provides for the creation of an anonymous reporting system to provide tips about potential attacks and persons who may be inclined to commit acts of violence on campus.

“The STOP School Violence Act is a good step toward making our schools safe again. We will continue to examine issues pertaining to school safety in order to create a safer environment for our nation’s children. I thank Representatives Rutherford, Chabot, Granger, Davis, Messer, Bost, Coffman, and Brooks for their collaborative work on this bill and call on the Senate to pass it swiftly so that we can better protect our nation’s kids.”

Below are key elements of the STOP School Violence Act.

Student Violence Prevention Training: The STOP School Violence Act provides funding for training to prevent student violence against oneself and  others, including training for local law enforcement officers, school personnel, and students. Prevention training would be designed to give students and school personnel the ability to recognize and respond quickly to warning signs of school violence, and would include active shooter training.

Technology to Improve School Security: The bill provides funding for technology and equipment to improve school security and prevent attacks. This includes the development and operation of anonymous reporting systems, such as mobile apps, a hot-line, and a website. Funding may also be used for metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other technologies to keep schools safe.

School Threat Assessment and Crisis Intervention Teams: The legislation also contains funding for school threat assessment and crisis intervention teams so that school personnel can respond to threats before they materialize.

More Coordination with Law Enforcement: Finally, the STOP School Violence Act provides funding to support law enforcement coordination efforts, and in particular, those officers who already staff schools.

VIDEO: Goodlatte spoke on the House floor in support of the STOP School Violence Act.