House education committee advances school-safety package; OK to Say tip line to appear on student IDs and quarterly tip reports ordered

The House Committee on Education and Workforce advanced multiple bills from a broader school-safety package, moving substitutes and reporting measures that would place the "Okay to Say" tip-line number on student identification cards and require quarterly compilation and reporting of tips to the School Safety and Mental Health Commission.

Committee consideration began with testimony from Representative Steele, sponsor of one of the bills tied to the "Okay to Say" tip line. "This tip line has been very helpful and since its implementation there was like 300 calls and now it's worked its way up to almost 12,000 calls," Representative Steele said, and described the specific provision he presented: printing the tip-line number on student identification cards so students and school community members have a discreet way to report concerns.

Gabrielle, appearing on behalf of Representative Neely's office, described House Bill 42 29 as a complementary measure. "House Bill 42 29 will require the office…