Indianapolis, In. — Governor Eric Holcomb has signed legislation signed into law supported by Greensburg Republican state representative Randy Frye that will pump an additional $5 million into more protections for Hoosier students.
House Enrolled Act 1230 appropriates the additional cash to the Indiana Secured School Safety Grant Fund. Frye said this is in addition to the $45 million already allotted to support initiatives to keep schools safe and secure.
Under the new law, school safety specialist training will be implemented and will include information on identifying, preventing and intervening in actions by a person on school property who has the intent to harm others. Additionally, the secured school safety board will conduct a review and submit a report and recommendations to the Legislative Council, and each school corporation’s safety plan will be subject to a required audit.
An amendment authored by Frye updates protocol in the event of an unplanned fire alarm to allow an employee to barricade or block a door for up to three minutes while the fire alarm is investigated by a designated school official. Frye said this is to prevent similar tactics like the one used in the Parkland tragedy.
“The safety of children in our schools is top priority,” Frye said. “School officials should have the ability to take every precaution before rushing their students into the unknown. This modification in how teachers immediately respond to an unplanned fire alarm could prevent the loss of life at the hands of a shooter who goes to extreme lengths to lure students outside.”
To more quickly implement the best possible safety procedures for young Hoosiers, the new law will go into effect immediately.
