HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3518        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 335

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James M. Cantwell and John F. Keenan

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act promoting school safety and student success through effective school-based law enforcement.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3518        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 335

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act promoting school safety and student success through effective school-based law enforcement.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 11 of Chapter 284 of the Acts of 2014 is hereby amended by inserting the following subsections:

(g) There shall be established and set upon the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the school resource officer training fund into which shall be deposited amounts credited or transferred to the fund by the general court or any other source including, without limitation, federal grants; and any other amounts required to be credited to the fund by operation of law, resolution or agreement entered into by the department of elementary and secretary of education. The fund shall be administered by the Secretary of Education in consultation with the Secretary of Public Safety and Security and the Municipal Police Training Committee. Monies deposited into the fund that are unexpended at the end of the fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure in the subsequent fiscal year.

(h) Amounts credited to the fund shall be used, without further appropriation, to fund training for school resource officers, chiefs of police, supervisors of law enforcement officers, or superintendents and other school administrators. The Secretary of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations for the administration and implementation of this section.

(i) A municipality, regional school district, county agricultural school, charter school, or law enforcement agency may apply to the secretary of education for grants under the school resource officer training fund. The Secretary of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations for the administration and implementation of this section. Grant funds may be used to fund training through:

1.The Massachusetts Police Training Committee

2.The National Association of School Resource Officers

3.Another school resource officer training program approved by the Municipal Police Training Committee or the Department of Education

(j) Training offered through the fund for school resource officers may include instruction to promote knowledge, skills, and strategies in:

1.the special nature of school campuses and school building security needs;

2.school resource officer roles and responsibilities;

3.child and adolescent development, developmental disabilities, and special needs;

4.mental health promotion, behavioral and emotional disorders, and trauma-informed care;

5.de-escalation and conflict resolution techniques with children and adolescents, and positive school discipline;

6.using data and evaluation to promote effectiveness;

7.juvenile law and juvenile justice diversion strategies such as restorative justice

8.community-based supports and resources for at-risk youth;

(k) Department of Education and the Municipal Police Training Committee shall develop a school resource officer certificate for officers who have completed at least 40 hours of training in topics described in subsection (j). 

(l) Training offered through the fund for superintendents, other school administrators, chiefs of police, and supervising police officers may include instruction to promote knowledge, skills, and strategies in:

1.the special nature of school campuses and school building security needs;

2.school resource officer roles and responsibilities;

3.integrating school resource officers into the school environment;

4.developing an MOU and Standard Operating Procedures;

5.using data and evaluation to promote effectiveness;

6.managing a school resource officer program, including the selection of school resource officers