O L S C: HIO Egislative Ervice Ommission
O L S C: HIO Egislative Ervice Ommission
O L S C: HIO Egislative Ervice Ommission
Reps. Patterson and LaTourette, Boggs, Lepore-Hagan, Carfagna, Slaby, Rogers, Scherer,
K. Smith, Miller, Sheehy, Brenner, Fedor, Hambley, Henne, R. Smith, Cera, Green,
Sykes, Anielski, Antonio, Arndt, Ashford, Barnes, Boyd, Brown, Craig, Cupp, Duffey,
Edwards, Faber, Galonski, Gavarone, Ginter, Greenspan, Hagan, Holmes, Hoops,
Hughes, Ingram, T. Johnson, Kelly, Koehler, Landis, Leland, Lipps, Manning, McClain,
O'Brien, Patton, Pelanda, Perales, Ramos, Reineke, Rezabek, Riedel, Romanchuk,
Ryan, Seitz, Stein, Strahorn, Thompson, West, Wiggam, Young
Sens. Lehner, Manning, Oeslager, Tavares, Beagle, Balderson, Brown, Dolan, Eklund,
Gardner, Hackett, Hoagland, Hottinger, Huffman, Kunze, LaRose, McColley, Obhof,
O'Brien, Peterson, Schiavoni, Sykes, Terhar, Thomas, Uecker, Wilson, Yuko
Effective date: November 2, 2018; appropriations effective August 2, 2018
ACT SUMMARY
SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY
Requires any school district that obtains school resource officer services to enter into
a memorandum of understanding with the appropriate law enforcement agency
describing the district's school resource officer program.
This version corrects the text regarding emergency removal of a student (p. 14).
Other safety and security provisions
Appropriates $12 million to the Attorney General for FY 2019 to provide grants to
public schools, including those of county boards of developmental disabilities, and
chartered nonpublic schools for school safety and school climate programs and
training.
Transfers unused capital funds from the School Security Grants Program to the
General Revenue Fund.
"SAFE ACT"
Title
Entitles the portion of the act regarding Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports
(PBIS), suspensions, expulsions, and emergency removal as the "Supporting
Alternatives for Education Act," or the "SAFE Act."
Clarifies that each public school must implement a PBIS framework and specifies
objectives and contents of the framework.
Requires all teacher preparation programs to include PBIS instruction for students
pursuing a license to teach in any of grades pre-K through 5.
Specifies that a student may be expelled for one year for bringing or possessing a
knife only if that knife is capable of causing serious bodily injury, as defined by the
district or school.
Requires each school district and school to annually report all out-of-school
suspensions and expulsions of pre-K through 3 students, categorized by type of
offense.
Emergency removal
Reduces from three to one the number of school days within which a post-removal
hearing must be held regarding a student's emergency removal.
Specifies that emergency removal of a student in any of grades pre-K through 3 may
be only for the remainder of the school day, unless the student committed an offense
warranting suspension or expulsion.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY.......................................................................................... 4
School resource officers............................................................................................................. 4
Completion of specialized training .......................................................................................... 5
Dual role of Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission ............................................................ 5
Provision of specialized training program ............................................................................... 5
Nuances of law enforcement functions ............................................................................... 6
Types of services provided by a school resource officer......................................................... 6
Memorandum of understanding.............................................................................................. 7
The act establishes the qualifications and training requirements for school
resource officers. A "school resource officer" under the act is any certified peace officer
appointed through a memorandum of understanding between a law enforcement
agency and a school district.1 Essentially, the act's provisions apply only to school
resource officer (peace officer) services, and it appears that districts and schools may
continue to procure other forms of security services through other means. But on and
after the act's November 2, 2018, effective date, school resource officer services may be
procured only in accordance with the act.
1
R.C. 3313.951.
(3) A course that satisfies the act's conditions and is taught by a peace officer
certified to conduct the training.
Any school resource officer appointed prior to November 2, 2018, is exempt from
the specialized training requirement.3
The act requires the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission to both:
(1) Develop and conduct a basic school resource officer training course that
includes instruction regarding skills, tactics, and strategies necessary to address the
specific nature of school climate and security (see below) and establish criteria for
successful completion of that course; and
(2) Adopt rules for the approval of the National or Ohio School Resource Officer
Association or a peace officer certified to conduct specialized training and select the
entity that will actually conduct the specialized training.4
Under the act, the National Association of School Resource Officers, the Ohio
School Resource Officers Association, or a peace officer certified to conduct a basic
school resource officer training course must be approved by the Ohio Peace Officer
2
R.C. 3313.951(A)(3). See R.C. 109.71(A)(1), not in the act.
3 R.C. 3313.951(B)(1) and (2).
4
R.C. 3313.951(B)(4).
(4) The mechanics of being a positive role model for youth, including appropriate
communication techniques;
(7) Identifying the trends in drug use, eliminating the instance of drug use, and
encouraging a drug-free school environment.5
(2) The appropriate role of school resource officers regarding discipline and
reducing the number of referrals to juvenile court; and
A school resource officer may carry out any responsibilities outlined in the
officer's employment engagement, contract, or memorandum of understanding with a
school or district. These include providing a safe learning environment, providing
5 R.C. 3313.951(B)(3).
6
R.C. 3313.951(B)(3)(c).
The act also specifically permits a school resource officer to provide assistance
with adoption, implementation, and amendment of comprehensive school emergency
management plans. When doing so, it requires a school resource officer to consult with
local law enforcement and first responders.
However, the act expressly vests the school district or school administrator with
final decision-making authority regarding all matters of school discipline.7
Memorandum of understanding
Any school district that is already receiving school resource officer services on
November 2, 2018, or that wishes to obtain such services after that date, must enter into
a memorandum of understanding with the appropriate law enforcement agency
clarifying the (1) purpose of the school resource officer program, and (2) roles and
expectations between the participating entities. If a district is already receiving services,
the memorandum must be entered into within one year after the act's November 2,
2018, effective date.8
Contents
(5) A protocol for how suspected criminal activity versus school discipline is
handled;
7 R.C. 3313.951(D) and (E). See also R.C. 3313.536, not in the act.
8
R.C. 3313.951(C)(1).
Student input
The act permits a school district to give students an opportunity to provide input
during the drafting of a memorandum of understanding.10
The act appropriates $12 million from the General Revenue Fund for FY 2019 to
the Attorney General to award grants for school safety and school climate programs
and training. Grants may be awarded to public and chartered nonpublic schools and
schools operated by county boards of developmental disabilities. The Attorney General
must operate the grant program in consultation with the Superintendent of Public
Instruction and the Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
(4) Training to identify and assist students with mental health issues; and
Participating schools and county boards must work with or contract with the
county sheriff's office or the appropriate local police department to develop these
programs and training.11
The act requires the Department of Public Safety, in consultation with the
Facilities Construction Commission, to conduct a study of school security in existing
buildings of public schools and participating chartered nonpublic schools. The study
must include:
9
R.C. 3313.951(C)(2).
10 R.C. 3313.951(C)(3).
11
Section 4.
(3) An analysis of the most cost-effective ways to add physical security changes
to existing school buildings;
(5) The number of buildings with school security personnel not reported in (4),
including school buildings that use retired law enforcement as school security; and
The Department must submit the study to the Governor and to each member of
the General Assembly by February 1, 2019.12
Finally, the act specifies that in the interest of maintaining student and staff
safety, any information provided by a school to the Department of Public Safety is a
security record and is not a public record.13
The act transfers to the General Revenue Fund the unused capital funds from the
School Security Grants Program, which reimbursed public and chartered nonpublic
schools for emergency communications systems and security entrance systems
purchased between January 2013 and March 2017.14
"SAFE ACT"
Overview
12 Section 8.
13
See R.C. 149.433, not in the act.
14
Section 7. See https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=10170&format=pdf for the LSC fiscal
note for H.B. 318, as enacted.
15
Section 11.
The act clarifies that each public school must implement a PBIS framework on a
system-wide basis designed to improve academic and social outcomes and increase
learning for all students. It requires the Department of Education to oversee compliance
with framework implementation. Each framework may focus on the following:
(4) Improving staff climate and culture regarding the role of discipline in the
classroom, established through the use of positive and proactive communication and
staff recognition.16
Training on PBIS
The act requires that each teacher preparation program include a course for all
students pursuing a license to teach in any of grades pre-K through 5 that provides
instruction on:
16
R.C. 3319.46. Conforming changes in R.C. 3313.534. R.C. 3319.46 applies to community schools, STEM
and STEAM schools, and college-preparatory boarding schools through references in
R.C. 3314.03(A)(11)(d), 3326.11, and 3328.24, none in the act. See also Ohio Administrative Code 3301-35-
15.
(5) Effective instructional strategies and how to implement them with fidelity;
(7) The impact of trauma, toxic stress, and other environmental variables on
learning behavior.17
Professional development
By January 31, 2019 (90 days after the act's effective date), the State Board of
Education must amend its policy and standards for the implementation of a PBIS
framework to reflect the act's changes, including the new training provisions.19 The act
does not affect the State Board's policy and standards for the use of physical restraint or
seclusion.
17
R.C. 3319.237(A).
18 R.C. 3319.237(B).
19
R.C. 3319.46(A).
The act requires that a school district's or building's state report card include,
without an assigned letter grade, an answer of "yes" or "no" as to whether it has
implemented a PBIS framework in compliance with the act.20
Continuing law authorizes the suspension of any student for up to ten days for
minor infractions and expulsion for up to 80 days for serious violations of the student
code of conduct. The law further specifies a number of serious offenses for which
expulsions of a year are required or may be authorized, namely (1) bringing a firearm or
knife to school, (2) possessing a firearm or knife at school, (3) making a bomb threat, or
(4) causing serious physical harm to persons or property.21
The act specifies that a student may be expelled for bringing or possessing a
knife only if it is "capable of causing serious bodily injury," as defined by the district
board or school governing authority.22
The act requires, rather than permits as under former law, a district or school to
allow a student to complete classroom assignments missed during both in-school and
out-of-school suspensions.23
The act specifies that the entirety of an "in-school suspension" must be served in
a supervised learning environment within a school setting. 24
20 R.C. 3302.03(C)(2)(h).
21
R.C. 3313.66(A) and (B).
22
R.C. 3313.66(B)(3) and 3313.661(A).
23 R.C. 3313.66(A).
24
R.C. 3313.66(A)(2) and (K)(2).
Phased implementation
The act phases in implementation of this prohibition. To that end, for each of
school years 2018-2019 through 2021-2022 each district and school must report to the
Department of Education the number of out-of-school suspensions and expulsions
issued to students in grades pre-K through 3, according to the following categories:
Category 2: An offense not listed in Category 1 but for which the district or
school determined suspension was necessary to protect the immediate
health and safety of the student, the student's classmates, or the classroom
staff or teachers.
25 R.C. 3313.66(D).
26
R.C. 3313.668(B)(1) and (4).
For the 2021-2022 school year, and each year thereafter, all out-of-school
suspensions and expulsions of students in grades pre-K through 3 must be for only
Category 1 or Category 2 offenses.
After the 2021-2022 school year, a district must report the number of out-of-
school suspensions and expulsions if the Department determines that continued
reporting is necessary.27
Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, a school principal, whenever possible,
must consult with a mental health professional under contract with the district or
school before issuing an out-of-school suspension or expulsion for a student in grades
pre-K through 3. If a need for additional mental health services is indicated, the
principal or mental health professional, without a financial burden to the district or
school, must assist the student's parent or guardian with locating providers or obtaining
those services. That assistance might include referral to an independent mental health
professional.
This and all other provisions of the act expressly do not limit a district's
responsibility to provide special education and support services in the manner required
by state and federal law.28
Department reports
Using the data submitted by districts and schools under the act, by October 1 of
school years 2018-2019 through 2021-2022, the Department of Education must submit to
the General Assembly and the Superintendent of Public Instruction a report containing
the following:
27 Section 9.
28
R.C. 3313.668(B)(2) and Section 10.
Emergency removal
Under continuing law, a building principal or teacher, without prior notice and
hearing, may remove a student whose presence poses a continuing danger to persons or
property or an ongoing threat of disrupting the academic process. That law requires
written notice as soon as practicable and a post-removal hearing. The act requires that
the hearing be held the next school day after the removal, instead of within three school
days after the removal as under former law.30
The act also specifies that a student in grades pre-K through 3 removed under
this provision must be permitted to return to curricular and extracurricular activities on
the school day following the day the student was removed. If the student is returned to
activities in accordance with this requirement, the district or school can forego the
written notice and one-day post-removal hearing requirements. However, a school
district may not initiate a suspension or expulsion proceeding against a young student
who was removed unless (1) the student committed a serious offense or (2) it is
necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student, the student's
classmates, or the classroom staff and teachers.31
29
Section 9(F).
30 R.C. 3313.66(C)(1) and (3).
31
R.C. 3313.66(C)(2).
All grant funds must be used within two years from the date of an award.32
HISTORY
ACTION DATE
Introduced 08-09-17
Reported, H. Education & Career Readiness 02-28-18
Re-referred by H. Rules & Reference 03-06-18
Reported, H. Finance 04-10-18
Passed House (92-2) 04-11-18
Reported, S. Finance 06-06-18
Passed Senate (33-0) 06-06-18
House concurred in Senate amendments (71-20) 06-27-18
18-HB318-UPDATED-132.docx/ts
32
Section 5.