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Panel approves bill letting principals designate trained staff to conduct searches and tightening threat-notification rules
Summary
HB 23-64 would let a principal designate a trained employee to conduct searches in the principal's absence and require parent alerts only for threats deemed credible. The subcommittee adopted the bill and sent it to full Education after supportive comments on balancing safety with avoiding desensitization to alerts.
Chairman Hawk described HB 23-64 as a two-part proposal addressing searches and notification standards. He said the bill would "authorize a principal to designate a trained school employee to conduct searches whenever the principal is absent," and would require a threat be "deemed as credible before that notification will go out to parents," arguing the change is meant to avoid desensitization from too many alerts.
Members voiced support for both components as practical responses to staffing and notification challenges. Chairman White said the bill "really makes a lot of sense" to authorize additional trained staff when principals or SROs are unavailable. The committee voted to move the bill to full Education with four ayes and no nays.
