The bill amends the Revised Code to establish a statewide behavioral threat management operational process for public and chartered nonpublic schools in Ohio. It requires local, city, exempted village, and joint vocational school districts to form threat assessment teams for grades six through twelve, with team members mandated to complete an approved training program every three years. The composition of these teams must be multidisciplinary, including individuals familiar with the subject of the threat assessment. The bill also provides civil liability immunity for school personnel executing their duties related to school safety, except in cases of willful or wanton misconduct. Notably, it removes a previous timeline for establishing these teams and emphasizes the inclusion of at least one member with personal familiarity with the individual being assessed.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions to enhance the operational and financial accountability of community schools, requiring documentation of loans made by school operators at fair market interest rates and the adoption of policies for student residence verification. It mandates that contracted professionals remain independent from the school operator and requires community schools to submit a comprehensive governance and management plan. The bill also establishes a new section for the development of a statewide behavioral threat management operational process, including a threat management portal for electronic reporting and documentation of behavioral assessments. Penalties for violations related to these new provisions are outlined, and existing sections of the Revised Code are repealed to accommodate these changes.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3313.669, 3314.03, 3326.11, 3328.24, 5502.99