House Bill 6012, sponsored by State Representative Pamela Hornberger, a Chesterfield Republican, was signed into law last week. The bill funds risk assessment and critical incident mapping in schools to create safety plans. It also funds mental health and security resources for Oxford Community Schools in the wake of the tragic violence that took place in November of 2021.
Hornberger said the bill will help Oxford with many expenses related to the tragedy. The bipartisan bill also helps schools with making buildings safer by determining where further investments are needed.
The bill allocates $14 million for public schools, intermediate school districts, and private schools in the form of $2,000 grants to complete a comprehensive safety and security assessment.
State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice endorsed the bill but said it’s just a start. Rice called on the legislature to support the governor’s budget request of a $361 million increase in children’s mental health spending and $51 million for school safety grants, along with passing gun safety laws.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
