Video & Transcript Research : 'public school safety'

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HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • As a public school student in Hawaii who hopes to become an elementary school teacher, this bill is very
  • Our family supports public school.
  • in public schools.
  • in public<02:34:26.880><c> schools.
  • Uh, I am going to, public schools.
Bills: HB1890, HB1888, HB1676
Summary: The committees heard three measures, beginning with HB 1890 HD3, which would provide automatic step increases and a COVID-era retention bonus for teachers. Supporters included HSTA, the Democratic Party’s Education Caucus, and a student who said higher pay and predictable salary growth would help retain teachers in Hawaii. The Department of Education supported the intent but asked that the bill be expanded to cover all department employees. The Attorney General’s office said the draft needed clarification to avoid conflict with Chapter 89 and to make clear any funding was subject to legislative appropriation. The Office of the Public Defender and B&F testified in opposition, and committee members questioned whether the step increases were already in the current contract and whether the bill was needed. HSTA said the current contract includes automatic step increases subject to funding, but argued the bill was still needed because funding is not guaranteed and the measure would codify the policy. HSTA also said the COVID bonus would apply only to active teachers who worked during the pandemic and estimated the total cost at roughly $150 million to $200 million over four years. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up HB 1888 HD3, which would require DOE and charter schools to report harassment incidents and strengthen penalties for harassment of educational workers from a petty misdemeanor to a misdemeanor. DOE supported the bill and suggested narrowing language about assisting workers with temporary restraining orders, saying that function would be better handled through the Attorney General’s pilot program. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing the harassment language was overly broad, vague, and potentially unconstitutional, and that existing assault and terroristic threatening statutes already protect educational workers. HSTA, the State Commission on the Status of Women, and several individual testifiers supported the measure, describing increased intimidation and harassment of teachers and other school staff, especially since COVID. The Special Education Advisory Council opposed the bill’s language on “disrupting and interfering” with school functions, saying it could chill parents of students with IEPs from advocating for their children. Testimony was split, with the chair noting 20 in support and 16 in opposition in the portion shown. A final witness, Michelle Pestana, testified in opposition based on her family’s experience with special education services, describing alleged seclusion and restraint of her daughter and expressing concern that DOE testimony in prior hearings had targeted special education parents. Her remarks were cut off as time expired. The transcript ends before any committee action or vote on HB 1888 was taken.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Cap Committee Meeting - 2025-04-29

Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is aligned with what's nationally recommended for best practices for school safety, and it highlights
  • , and the I Love You Guys Foundation, which is a national school safety organization.
  • It's called Blue in the School.
  • I think it is a great way to provide safety in our schools. Thank you, Representative Witte.
  • That's 2,000 public schools, 200 charter schools, our tribal schools as well, our intermediate districts
Bills: HF3220
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/25/2026 - Senate Education

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • in our public schools.
  • public schools are in, you know, that we have public schools.
  • safety policy that clearly prescribes the public safety procedures and protocols, designates the school
  • The bill requires each school district to annually compile and post a public safety report on the school
  • This bill is really about public safety. It's about protecting our kids while they're at school.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Capital Investment Committee 4/29/25

Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • So um, House File 3220 cancels the otherwise expiring balance of $1.88 million from the 2018 school safety
  • House File 3220 cancels the otherwise expiring balance of $1.88 million from the 2018 school safety grants
  • PASS, and the I Love You Guys Foundation, which is the National School Safety Organizations.
  • </c><00:03:20.959><c> Safety</c> the National School Safety the National School Safety Organizations.
  • That's 200 or 2,000 public schools, 200 charter schools, um, our tribal schools as well, our intermediate
Bills: HF3220
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 2/27/25

State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • you</c> that it is public schools week um you that it is public schools week um you this<00:32:04.720
  • I agree that spending time in schools and with public safety folks is a best practice.
  • </c><00:51:48.160><c> folks</c><00:51:48.559><c> is</c> schools and with Public Safety folks is schools
  • </c><00:52:39.079><c> Safety</c> not military the uh Public Safety not military the uh Public Safety
  • </c><01:09:57.440><c> Safety</c> education and those were Public Safety education and those were Public
Bills: HF550, HF412, HF796, HF140
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Apr 15th, 2026

Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'd like to welcome everyone to this public hearing of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland
  • This public hearing of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.
  • committed to public safety.
  • There are many school bus safety issues that deserve attention and action, and I care deeply about all
  • It just seems inexcusable to me that our school buses lack this safety measure.
Bills: S2743, S2861, S3021
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/21/2026 - Senate Education

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm a longtime teacher in the public schools and former principal as well.
  • high schools to use public school extracurricular activities, fees, and tax credit contributions to
  • It'll strengthen public safety and it'll build a culture of readiness.
  • It will strengthen public safety and it'll build a culture of readiness and helpfulness among our students
  • safety and school well-being for students.
Bills: SB1009
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education May 6th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • HB 1655 ensures that public school employees are prohibited from assisting or facilitating the social
  • I am a public school teacher in this area.
  • Transgender children getting haircuts is not the problem in our public schools.
  • The crisis facing our public schools is the crisis of leadership.
  • The legislature has diverted public money into private schools. ...schools, stalled on funding our public
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education May 6th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • And sometimes there can be retribution to their kids in public school where, for safety reasons, it might
  • Zaffirini relating to provisions and plans by public schools to ensure the safety of individuals with
  • At public schools by the Texas Education Agency related to public school educators.
  • Public school book fairs, we simply can't.
  • We do book fairs for both private and public schools.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Rules Feb 10th, 2026

Rules

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill addresses a current gap in how Florida's public colleges and universities communicate safety
  • Tab 4, CS for CS for SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools, by Senator Jones.
  • Members, SB 178, Athletics in Public K-12 Schools, directs the Florida High School Athletic Association
  • This bill updates the exemption to include district school boards and public schools.
  • The bill also This bill updates the exemption to include district school boards and public schools.
Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills, beginning with CS for CS for SB 54, which requires district medical examiners to perform toxicology screenings for psychotropic drugs and intoxicating substances in autopsies of violent offenders and report findings to state agencies. It was reported favorably after brief discussion about how the data would be used. CS for SB 176 also passed, requiring public postsecondary institutions to make campus safety reporting and response procedures clearer and more accessible for students, faculty, and staff who receive threats. Both bills were approved without opposition in the meeting. The committee then took up the large Florida Farm Bill, CS for CS for CS for SB 290, which drew extensive testimony and multiple amendments. The bill includes changes to fair associations, a preemption on local restrictions affecting gas- and diesel-powered farm equipment, surplus of certain state-owned lands for agricultural use, a food animal veterinary loan repayment program, permanent authorization for Farmers Feeding Florida, expanded Florida Forest Service training, a ban on signal jamming devices, tougher CDL English-proficiency penalties, protections for food safety inspectors, biosolids provisions, and contractor payment enforcement. Amendments expanded veterinary loan eligibility to equine veterinarians, merged citrus research entities, made technical corrections, and revised contractor payment language; a late-filed amendment removed the bill’s disparagement clause after significant First Amendment concerns and public testimony. A separate amendment delayed biosolids compliance deadlines. The bill was reported favorably as amended. Also approved were CS for CS for SB 834, which repeals a restriction on health care sharing ministries partnering with licensed insurance agents, while adding a disclaimer requirement; SB 936, allowing temporary door locking devices at any height above the floor and directing the Building Commission to add standards to the code; and CS for SB 50, expanding veterans’ courts statewide. Later, CS for CS for SB 1004 advanced with a strike-all regulating dog and cat sales, requiring disclosure of medical records and financing terms, a three-day waiting period for financed purchases, and consumer protections against deceptive pet sales; an amendment removed an appropriation section. The committee also approved CS for CS for SB 178, which directs the FHSAA to adopt rules allowing coaches to provide limited good-faith support to student-athletes, and CS for CS for SB 198, regulating virtual currency kiosks with registration, warnings, transaction limits, receipts, and refund protections. Each of these bills was reported favorably by recorded vote.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Ways and Means Education Committee Feb 19th, 2025

Ways and Means Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members of the committee, this is a school safety bill.
  • That's five years away, allowing schools to incorporate it within their emergency school safety planning
  • I think oftentimes when we think of school safety, we think of just the school setting, the classrooms
  • But this is, in your mind, this concept fits within the school safety initiatives. fits within the school
  • In the end, I think school safety is paramount, and this bill provides sufficient time for schools to
Bills: HB205, HB226, HB234
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/18/2026 - Senate Education

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • , in our public schools.
  • people, whether it be charter or public schools or any other schools. ...people, whether it be charter
  • A public school must make a...
  • A public school must make a... ...establish a process for schools and the public to recommend additions
  • This... ...requirement for Arizona public schools beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 4/8/26

Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Let's provide the funding to the Department of Public Safety School Safety Center to create eight pilots
  • Let's provide the funding to the Department of Public Safety School Safety Center to create eight pilots
  • School safety plans, I've worked in multiple school districts. That plan is never public.
  • Public Safety for eight Commissioner of Public Safety for eight school<00:53:23.960><c> safety</c><00
  • </c> public safety. public safety.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • public schools.
  • My name is Ryan Davenport, a public school administrator.
  • As pending business, this bill relates to measures for ensuring public school safety, including the commissioning
  • of peace officers by the Texas Education Agency, public school safety and security requirements, and
  • It is not good for the public school.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • No, sir, they're public charter schools. Public charter schools where the boards are appointed.
  • As pending business, members, this bill relates to measures for ensuring public school safety. including
  • the commissioning of peace officers by the Texas Education Agency, public school safety and security
  • safety zones by prohibiting short term temporary navigation services within 1,500 feet of a public school
  • . public schools, ISDs, charter schools.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • school classroom from the teacher is what determines the success or The continued issues that public
  • students are regularly placing public schools at harm.
  • I mean, that's what our classrooms have evolved to in our public school settings.
  • So our public schools are a reflection of our society.
  • But this is not just a public school issue.
Summary: The committee heard a series of school safety and discipline bills, beginning with SB 870, which would codify an attorney general opinion allowing local school boards to decide whether school marshals may openly carry, conceal carry, or store a firearm in a secure safe on campus. The bill was laid out with no public testimony and left pending. The chair then moved to a combined discussion of SB 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, and 1924, all focused on school discipline, teacher authority, and student safety. Senators Perry and Creighton described the package as a response to rising classroom disruptions, assaults on teachers, and concerns that districts lack effective tools to maintain order. SB 1871 would expand teacher removal authority, require return-to-class plans before a student removed for certain conduct can return, make some serious offenses mandatory for placement in juvenile justice settings, and provide telehealth mental health services through a consortium. SB 1872 would require expulsion to a JJAEP for assaults on teachers or school volunteers and extend certain expulsion-eligible conduct to off-campus offenses. SB 1873 would restore the prior understanding that in-school suspension is not subject to a three-day limit. SB 1874 would grant teachers immunity from disciplinary action for reporting discipline violations or acting in compliance with Chapter 37. SB 1924 would restore authority for local police and school district police to issue Class C citations for school offenses and require criminal referrals for students posing an imminent threat or assaulting a teacher, with a substitute clarifying referral rules when a citation has already been issued. The committee adopted the substitutes for the bills and moved them forward. Invited witnesses from teacher and administrator groups largely supported the overall goal of stronger discipline and safer classrooms, while asking for refinements. The Texas Classroom Teachers Association testified that teachers need more autonomy to remove disruptive or violent students and that classroom removals should not mean removal from learning. Superintendents from San Angelo, Grandview, and Wiley ISDs supported the bills’ emphasis on safety, expanded ISS flexibility, mandatory placement for serious offenses, and telehealth mental health services, but asked for more local control, flexibility for Districts of Innovation, more than one campus behavior coordinator in large districts, clearer timelines for return-to-class plans, and more precise definitions for disruptive conduct. Several witnesses stressed that teacher retention and student learning are being harmed by current discipline problems, while some members raised concerns about vague standards and the risk of overuse or public humiliation through citations and removals.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Education Pre-K - 12 Feb 3rd, 2026

Education Pre-K - 12

Transcript Highlights:
  • It does not mandate religious activity, prayer, or instruction in public schools.
  • It does not mandate religious activity, prayer, or instruction in public schools.
  • our only school board member who currently has young children in our public schools.
  • I am a public school teacher."
  • That was the first and last day my son ever attended public school.
Bills: S0824, S1170, S1620, S1738, S7036
Summary: The Education Pre-K-12 Committee considered several K-12 bills and resolutions. SJR 1104, by Senator Massullo, would place on the ballot a proposed constitutional amendment protecting voluntary religious expression in public schools; supporters said it simply codifies existing law and protects student and employee rights, while opponents warned it could entrench religious pressure and exclusion. The resolution was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 1738, by Senator Yarborough, on educational facilities; an amendment removed crime-prevention-through-environmental-design language and adjusted transparency/safe-space provisions, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. SB 824, by Senator Truenow, was amended into a transparency measure requiring districts to submit annual reports on unimproved land holdings to DOE, and it was reported favorably. Appointments in tabs 7 and 8 were recommended for confirmation. The committee then took up SPB 7036, a comprehensive education package by Chair Simon. The bill would expand educational emergency triggers, adjust Title I withholding uses, align charter school rules with school improvement processes, update safety and early learning provisions, expand literacy and math interventions, and revise educator pipeline policies. Members raised concerns about a provision that could allow the state to develop instructional materials; Simon said that section was still being considered and would need guardrails. The committee adopted a motion to submit the bill as a committee bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 1620, by Senator Leak, proposed a “school board members’ bill of rights” giving board members direct access to district documents and staff, limiting district attorneys’ dual representation, strengthening nepotism rules, and prohibiting nondisclosure agreements. Volusia County school board members and others testified both for and against the bill, with supporters citing transparency and accountability and opponents warning about confidentiality, staff pressure, and undermining the superintendent’s authority. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1170, by Senator Calatayud, as amended, would allow parents of students in self-contained ESE classrooms to request cameras, with district policies governing review, notice, timelines, and appeals. Parents, advocates, and educators testified strongly in support, while one witness opposed it as an unfunded mandate. The committee reported the bill favorably.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Education Policy Committee 2/25/26

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> particular school safety option. particular school safety option.
  • That is an school safety plans.
  • Department of Public Safety, could be a strong choice given their experts in school safety plans.
  • Schools, public and non-public. These are children.
  • The proposals included funding for public schools, but also charter schools and non-public schools and
Bills: HF3409, HF3487, HF3401
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • As a teacher myself and a veteran, As a parent with kids in public schools, I had never needed any kind
  • We represent school districts across Texas that are deeply committed to providing high-quality public
  • It does not reduce the amount of funding available to any other public school in Texas.
  • I'm a public school teacher testifying on my own behalf for HB56.
  • Members, this bill relates to a sick leave pool for public school employees.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • neighborhood public schools.
  • And so, while I do not shy away from partisanship, ...public schools, and so while I do not shy away
  • So Texas schools need significantly more money this session to close the school safety funding gap, and
  • Again, making sure we have money for school safety for our schools is the number one... ...concern of
  • for our public schools.
Summary: State Representative Gina Hinojosa and a group of parents and education advocates testified in support of House Bill 5419, a zero-based budgeting proposal aimed at reviewing Texas Education Agency spending and redirecting more public education dollars to classrooms. Hinojosa argued that public schools are being weakened by chronic underfunding, teacher shortages, delayed special education services, and inadequate school safety funding, and said the bill would help cut bureaucracy, vendor contracts, and other non-classroom spending in favor of teacher pay, safety, and special education. Several witnesses, including self-identified Republicans and former GOP officials, backed the bill as a good-government measure and said they were crossing party lines because public schools need more direct investment. They criticized TEA growth, vendor contracts, public-private partnerships, and what they described as unfunded mandates from the state, including school safety requirements. One witness said rural districts are being forced into four-day school weeks, while others cited campus closures, deferred maintenance, and local tax increases tied to state funding shortfalls and recapture payments. The discussion also focused on the need for a systematic review of TEA spending and the lack of a sunset review for the agency since before 2005. Hinojosa and others said increasing the basic allotment would help districts, reduce recapture pressures, and prevent local tax hikes. The exchange was primarily a public hearing and advocacy session; no vote or formal committee action was described in the transcript.