(The Center Square) – Objections by Georgia Democrats that a proposed school safety database could harm students failed to stop the House of Representatives from overwhelmingly passing a school safety bill Tuesday afternoon.
House Bill 268 would create a Student and School Safety System storing information on credible threats made to the state’s schools and students. Democrats voiced their support for portions of the bill but said the database is different from ones that track grades and attendance.
“This isn’t neutral data,” said Rep. Mekyah McQueen, D-Smyrna. “This is subjective labeling, deciding on which children are considered a threat based on a feeling, a perception, a judgment.”
The bill also requires school systems to share the data. Tips on school threats could be reported anonymously.
Behavioral Threat Assessment Teams would be adopted in all schools, and a mental health coordinator would be hired in each school district, according to the proposal.
The bill is in response to a shooting at a Barrow County high school last year. Two teachers and two students died. A student and his father are facing charges in connection with the shooting.
House Speaker Jon Burns encouraged the chamber to vote “yes” on the bill in a speech from the well.
“Our children demand that we address this issue,” Burns said.
A fiscal note on how the database would be funded is not included with the bill, raising concerns from some Democratic lawmakers. It passed 159-13 and goes to the Senate for approval.
The House also passed a bill that provides up to a $300 income tax credit for the purchase of firearm storage devices and safety classes. House Bill 79 could not impact state revenues more than $10 million, according to the bill’s fiscal note.
“Today’s House passage of HB79 and HB268 reaffirms our commitment to protecting Georgia’s children, and to implementing proactive measures that ensure a tragedy like what happened at Apalachee High School never happens in our state again,” Burns said.
