Senate approves school violence training, limits on vacancy appointments and other measures

Senators on Tuesday approved several measures on final passage, including a bill requiring youth violence prevention instruction for secondary students, a change to the process for filling certain elected-office vacancies, an exemption for producers selling feed from their own farms, and a multi-rule package from the Department of Administration.

The most consequential measure for classrooms, the engrossed committee substitute for Senate Bill 548, which the floor identified as the "Safety and Violence Education for Students Act," passed on third reading. The bill requires schools serving grades 6–12 to provide students at least one hour of youth violence prevention training each school year, directs the Department of Education to maintain a public list of approved trainings, and encourages designation of student-led violence-prevention clubs; the requirement is voluntary for public charter and…