Governor ceremonially signs bill into law supporting school safety, resource officers

Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 5:35 PM

By Staff report

The legislation was co-authored by State Rep. Cory Criswell (R-Middletown).

Gov. Eric Holcomb recently ceremonially signed into law legislation co-authored by State Rep. Cory Criswell (R-Middletown) supporting school safety, student mental health and school resource officers.
Criswell said while schools are already required to conduct two armed-intruder drills annually, this new law strengthens the framework around these drills by prioritizing mental health support for students. Under the new law, schools must now offer mental health resources following each drill and provide an opt-out option for parents.

"I'm thrilled to see this bill become a law, making a real difference in creating safer environments for all schools and students," Criswell said. "This is a crucial step in our mission to maintain school safety while keeping students' mental health in mind."

Additionally, drills that include sensory components cannot be conducted during regular school hours or require participation, and accommodations must be made for students who have mobility restrictions, sensory needs, or auditory or visual limitations.

The new law also supports school resource officers by ensuring they are eligible for benefits under the 1977 Pension Fund. Criswell said improving benefits recognizes the critical role SROs play in maintaining safety and ensures they receive the same benefits as other law enforcement officers. He also said the added benefit could help strengthen SRO recruitment efforts and encourage more officers to consider working in Indiana schools.