The bill amends the Revised Code to establish requirements for threat assessment teams in schools serving grades six through twelve. It mandates the creation of a threat assessment team for each school building within local, city, exempted village, joint vocational school districts, and chartered nonpublic schools. These teams, composed of members with expertise in law enforcement and mental health, are responsible for assessing and intervening in situations where a student's behavior may threaten school safety. The bill also emphasizes collaboration among state and local agencies and introduces provisions for sharing confidential information among agencies that provide services to students at risk of emotional disturbances or mental illness. Additionally, it includes a liability clause protecting school personnel from civil action related to their duties, unless willful misconduct is proven.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a comprehensive Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Program under the Department of Public Safety, which includes secure data management and the creation of a centralized web-based platform for threat assessment information. It appropriates $9,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to support this program and mandates annual training for personnel authorized to access the threat management portal. The Department of Public Safety is tasked with overseeing the program, conducting audits, and reporting to the governor and the General Assembly. The legislation aims to enhance school safety through structured threat assessment processes, inter-agency cooperation, and adherence to best practices in behavioral threat assessments.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3313.669, 3314.03, 3326.11, 5502.263