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AG says Safe to Say Something program is saving lives but needs added staff to meet new response rules
Summary
The attorney general told lawmakers the Safe to Say Something tipline received 178,000 tips, 12.5% flagged as life‑safety; he asked for funding to add staff and training so schools meet new statutory response windows and preserve anonymity.
Attorney General Sunday described the Safe to Say Something program to the Appropriations Committee as a key prevention tool that has produced substantial, life‑safety referrals but now requires additional staff and training after legislative changes.
Sunday said the tipline has received about 178,000 tips since launch and that 12.5% of tips from 2024–25 were designated life‑safety matters (suicidal ideation, immediate threats). He told the committee the statute now requires nonemergency school responses within 30 days and emergency responses within 48 hours, and that meeting those windows will require five additional positions and associated operational funding.
Members raised confidentiality concerns after a representative described a case in which a reporter believed her tip ceased to be anonymous within a district and led to retaliation. Sunday said his office would investigate specific instances and emphasized training for schools as a mitigation step; he also offered to work with members on legislative language to protect anonymity.
Why it matters: The program interfaces directly with students and schools statewide; funding and training determine whether tips are triaged and routed in time to prevent harm.
What's next: The AG requested a roughly $427,000 increase for Safe to Say Something as part of his overall budget request; the committee will consider the request during appropriation negotiations.
