An Act relative to safer schools

SD 1699 (An Act relative to safer schools) restricts school resource officers (SROs) from handling routine discipline or replacing counselors, limiting their involvement to serious criminal incidents like violence or property damage. It requires school districts to annually report detailed data on student interactions with SROs (including arrests, referrals, and searches) and publicly share this information with school committees. The bill also creates grants for schools to adopt non-law enforcement safety practices, such as restorative justice and relationship-building programs, instead of relying on SROs. These changes apply directly to public school districts, charter schools, and regional school systems across Massachusetts.