MEDIA ADVISORY:
SENATOR MAX WISE TO INTRODUCE NEXT

SCHOOL SAFETY FOCUSED MEASURE ON THURSDAY

School Safety 2.0 follows past legislative efforts, solidifies Kentucky as a leader in school safety policy

FRANKFORT, KY (Feb. 22, 2024) – Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, will be available for comment following his filing of Senate Bill 2 on Thursday upon Senate adjournment.

Wise’s proposal would be the next step in further strengthening school safety in Kentucky, improving response to threats to Kentucky’s students and teachers.

Date: Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024

Time: Upon Senate adjournment. The state Senate will convene at 2 p.m. EST.

Location: Senate Chamber, Kentucky State Capitol Building.

Stream: The gaggle will stream on the KY Senate Republicans Facebook Page. Members of the press are encouraged to attend in person.

BACKGROUND
Keystone effort by the General Assembly was the School Safety and Resiliency Act of 2019, Sponsored by Senator Max Wise

    • Filed in response to the shooting at Marshall County High School that had two deaths and more than a dozen wounded

  • In 2020, the School Safety and Resiliency Act was amended by SB 8 where School Resource Officers were defined in statute

    • Essentially a clean-up bill that sought to clarify and specify the responsibilities of SROs (School Resource Officers)

    • Clarified when a person is guilty of Terroristic Threatening

    • 250:1 (School Counselor: Student) ratio for mental health services, as a goal

  • In 2022 the School Safety and Resiliency Act was amended by HB 63 which:

    • Amended KRS 158.4414 to require the assignment of school resource officers to schools by August 1, 2022

    • Notably allowed the formation of police departments by the schools themselves to help in the hiring process of SROs

  • In July of 2023, Senator Wise told members of the Task Force on School and Campus Security that 28 other states had adopted part or all of the School Safety and Resiliency Act

    • 1st Meeting: Presentation of SB 1 of 2019 (School Safety and Resiliency Act)

      • An information session establishing background, concerns, and thoughts put into the 2019 bill as well as a recent history of its amendments

    • 2nd Meeting: Kentucky Center for School Safety & Office of the State School Security Marshal

      • Lengthy discussion on SRO training and how it would be absorbed by the Department of Criminal Justice (DOCJ)

    • 3rd Meeting: Strengthening Trauma-informed Schools for Prevention and Resiliency

      • Revolved around the need for specialized mental health services within Kentucky schools

###

Senator Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, represents the 16th Senate District, including Adair, Allen, Metcalfe, Monroe, and Taylor Counties and eastern Warren County. He is Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee chair. Wise also serves as a Senate Education Committee member and is a member of the newly formed Families and Children Committee and Health Services Committee. Additionally, he is an Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee member.

Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for more information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the 2024 Legislative Session, such as committee schedules and membership, legislation and more.

Live legislative coverage is available at ket.org/legislature and via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube channel.

Access archived footage of legislative meetings at ket.org/legislature/archives.

Follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on X, Facebook, and Instagram.