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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Ann
Collis |
State Rep. Richard T.
Grucela |
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Grucela’s school police training bill heads to full House
HARRISBURG, April 26 – State Rep. Rich Grucela, D-Northampton, said two of his measures that would improve the regulation and training of school safety personnel are now set to go before the full House for consideration.
Grucela has introduced legislation (H.B. 768) that would specify training required for school police officers and provide a state reimbursement to school districts for that training.
“Protecting our children is a tremendous responsibility,” Grucela said. “Though all of us wish that police were not needed in schools, their presence brings order and security to students and their parents. Sadly, the tragic situation at Virginia Tech has been a cruel reminder of how imperative it is for our police to be adequately trained to respond to those kinds of catastrophic situations.”
The bill would specify training for school officers under the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Program. The measure also would make school districts eligible for the same reimbursement that municipalities receive for the costs of this training. In addition to tuition and other related costs, the reimbursement includes 60 percent of an officer’s salary while completing the training.
Also, current school police officers would have two years to complete the training requirements. New hires would need to complete the training in order to be hired by a school district. If a school police officer resigns within two years of certification, then the municipality or school district that hired that officer would be responsible for reimbursing the school district for the portion of their salary that was not paid by the state.
Grucela’s second measure (H.B. 769) would define the roles and responsibilities of school security officers, school police officers and school resource officers, and require specific training for all three groups.
The legislation also would require each school district employing an officer to report certain information to the Department of Education. Specifically, each school district employing an officer would be required to report the following:
- The identity of the school district and the number of officers it employs
- The municipalities comprising the school district
- The date and type of training provided to each officer
- The agency that commissions an officer and the name of the commanding officer of that agency.
“New positions like school security and school resource officers are being created increasingly to fulfill the responsibilities of school police officers,” Grucela said. “Currently, those positions are not included in the information reporting requirement, and they are not subject to training requirements and specific oversight by the Department of Education. My bill would adjust the law to include these new positions and make sure they are best-equipped to care and protect school children.”
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