Education Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6535
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING ISSUES RELATING TO SCHOOL SECURITY.
Vote Date: 3/15/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference to Appropriations
PH Date: 3/3/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Education Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill establishes a 19-member legislative task force to examine the role of SROs (School
Resource Officers) in public schools and recommend whether they should continue to be
utilized. It requires study of inside-and-outside-locked classroom doors and a statewide plan
for responding to large-scale school crisis events; It requires DESPP to audit school's
security and safety plans through random unannounced visits beginning in 2021-22 school
year.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Charlene Russell-Tucker, Deputy Commissioner, State Department of Education:
While SDE supports the content of this proposal, they do not have the resources to
adequately meet the responsibilities and deadlines that would be placed on them. (These
concerns seem to have been addressed by the substitute language)
Sarah Healy Eagan, Acting Child Advocate, Office of the Child Advocate:
The presence of SROs has been proven to dramatically increase arrests of students of color.
Under resourced school administrators often resort to relying on police to deal with issues
that should not require a police response, sometimes as a strategy to access hospitalization.
If resources continue to be invested in law enforcement rather than the needs of students, the
consequences will be dire. The proposed task force lacks adequate representation for
parents, youth and disability and civil rights advocates.
James Rovella, Commissioner, Department of Emergency Services and Public
Protection: DESPP, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security should be
added to the task force. DEMHS's working group has provided a template school security
plan which can be expanded with the concepts in this bill. In regards to school audits, they
would request an additional 2-3 positions to perform that work.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Brian Anderson, Legislative Coordinator, Council 4 AFSCME: There is great value in
SROs, they not only protect the students, they provide a counseling function and help young
people deal with difficult and dangerous situations. They suggest including a seat on the task
force for a Council 4 AFSCME police officer, as they are the state's largest police union.
Sabira Gordon, Executive Director, ConnCAN
Kelley McConney Moore, Interim Senior Policy Council, American Civil Liberties Union
of Connecticut
Agata Raszczyk, Managing Attorney, Greater Hartford Legal Aid, Connecticut Legal
Services and New Haven Legal Assistance Association, Inc.
This bill is an important step in addressing the criminalization of students of color, however it
is concerning that the task force does not include student voice, community advocates or civil
rights organizations.
Representative Carol Hall, 59th Dist., Assistant House Republican Leader:
Classroom doors should absolutely lock from the inside, studies have shown that it protects
kids and teachers. SROs do as well, and so it's unclear why they would need to be studied.
Developing a state-wide crisis plan and conducting audits of school security are also
important measures in keeping kids safe.
Gale Heath, Administrative Associate, Connecticut Association of Boards of
Education, Inc.: CABE supports this bill, and supports local decision making on this issue.
The input of students and staff is critical.
David Lenihan, Director of Government Affairs, Connecticut Association of School
Business Officials: Supports the bill and requests that a member of CASBO be included in
the task force. Their members are responsible for aspects of school business and operations
including security, facilities and safety, and they can offer a unique perspective on the issue.
Gabriel Lomas, Clinical Program Coordinator, Western Connecticut State University:
Supports the bill and requests that he be included in the task force. Hopes this will lead to the
development of a School Safety Center, which would develop and run crisis teams. This
would provide equitable crisis support to high-poverty schools.
Glenn Lungarini, Executive Director, CT Association of Schools/CT Interscholastic
Athletic Coference: Supports the bill, with the provision that 2 representatives of CAS are
included in the task force. Their organization contains both principals and students with
unique and valuable perspectives.
Page 2 of 3 HB-6535
Mike Muszynski, State and Federal Relations Manager, Connecticut Conference of
Municipalities: CCM appreciates the intent of the bill to assist towns and cities to consider
issues of school security, and they request that municipal government representation be
included in the process.
Orlando Rodriguez, Research and Policy Development Specialist, Connecticut
Education Association: Thanks, the committee for their desire to make education even
better, and the many hours they dedicate to that task.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
Robert Bibbiani
Andrew Feinstein, Attorney, Special Education Equity for Kids in Connecticut
Robert Goodrich, Executive Director, Radical Advocates for Cross-Cultural Education
Marissa Halm, Director, TeamChild Youth Justice Project, Center for Children's
Advocacy
Christina Quaranta, Executive Director, Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance
Sana Shah, Chief of Staff, Connecticut Voices for Children
This task force includes too many police representatives and too few students and advocates
for children of color and children with disabilities. We do not need a task force to study SROs,
we already know that their presence results in higher rates of arrest, especially of students of
color. Police in schools need to be replaced with counselors.
Isabelle Hargrove
Anne Manusky, President, Connecticut Republican Assembly
Lorrie Rodrigue et al., Superintendent, Newtown Public Schools
Bryan Verillo, President, Glastonbury Police Officers Association
Both SSOs (retired police officers) and SROs are vital to protecting children and helping at-
risk youth. The decision to keep SROs should be made at the local level.
Reported by: Dallas Emerle Date: 3/16/2021
Page 3 of 3 HB-6535