This bill limits school resource officers' (SROs) roles in schools by prohibiting them from handling routine discipline or replacing counselors. It requires SROs to only intervene in serious criminal incidents (like physical harm, malicious property damage, or theft of significant value) and mandates de-escalation training. Schools must annually report costs, mental health budgets, and detailed data on student interactions with SROs (including arrests and referrals), with the education department collecting and publishing this data. The bill also creates grants to help schools adopt non-law enforcement safety practices, such as conflict resolution and culturally affirming approaches.
By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Brendan P. Crighton for legislation to update Massachusetts student transportation. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
By Representative Haggerty of Woburn, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Richard M. Haggerty relative to a student safety education course in schools. Education.
The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 382) of John F. Keenan, Dylan A. Fernandes, Adam Gomez, Sal N. DiDomenico and other members of the General Court for legislation to require opioid use disorder education in public schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 413) of Mark C. Montigny for legislation to save lives through increased fentanyl awareness, aka Andrew's Law; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 432) of Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation relative to prescription opioid abuse prevention education; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 433) of Pavel M. Payano for legislation relative to substance use education in public schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 447) of Michael F. Rush for legislation to provide hands only CPR training and the use of defibrillators; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 456) of Bruce E. Tarr, Madeleine Elizabeth Jackman , Patrick M. O'Connor, Shirley B. Arriaga and others relative to requiring instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of defibrillators for high school graduation, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2863).
By Representative Gregoire of Marlborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 591) of Danielle W. Gregoire relative to school bullying. Education.
By Representative Reyes of Lawrence, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 681) of Estela A. Reyes that school councils provide packets and trainings for managing children's wellbeing at home. Education.
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1779) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others for legislation to prohibit certain sex offenders from loitering within 500 feet of school bus stops. The Judiciary.
This bill requires all public elementary and secondary schools in Massachusetts to install at least one silent panic alarm system directly linked to law enforcement or the State Police. The alarms must meet national safety standards, be installed by licensed professionals, and not produce audible alerts within the school. The Massachusetts School Building Authority will cover the full cost of installation, including reimbursement for districts that already installed approved systems. Schools may also use alternative emergency mechanisms approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
This bill requires all Massachusetts public school staff - including educators, health providers, and new hires - to complete biennial suicide prevention training using evidence-based methods. It mandates schools to have at least one mental health professional for every 400 students by January 2027. The training must be integrated into existing professional development, and schools must provide suicide prevention materials to new staff within 30 days of hiring. These provisions directly affect school districts, educators, and students by standardizing suicide prevention resources and staffing ratios.
This bill (HD 1518) protects Massachusetts public school educators and staff from retaliation by administrators for reporting misconduct or advocating for student well-being. It creates anonymous district-level review boards staffed by teachers, administrators, and community members to investigate complaints of retaliation, such as unfair performance reviews or unsafe work assignments. Administrators found engaging in retaliatory actions face disciplinary measures, including termination or loss of licensure, and complaints will be investigated by the Attorney General's Office instead of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education due to conflicts of interest. School districts must also submit annual reports to the state legislature detailing complaints, investigations, and outcomes.
