Portantino Introduces Bill to Improve School Safety

State Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Pasadena) has introduced a bill that will create a statewide process that will better facilitate information between school districts and law enforcement agencies for threats of school crimes.

SB 1091 would create common-sense collaboration between schools and law enforcement, according to Portantino, who said the bill will help keep California students safer when they leave the comfort of their homes.

“Keeping our school children safe at school needs to be a top priority for all of us,” Portantino said in a prepared statement.

“The fact that there is no mandated cross reporting of information between school districts, offices of education, and law enforcement is very troubling. As Californians, we should want our governmental agencies to collaborate to prevent tragic acts of violence that have become all too common on our campuses,” commented Senator Portantino.”

Under the bill, the reported information could include threats of school shootings, hate crimes, other acts of violence, and drug or alcohol abuse.

Violent incidents on school campuses have sadly risen in recent years. Data from the department of education shows that schools experienced about 54,000 reported violent incidents during the 2017-18 school year, up from around 41,000 during 2015-16.

The percentage of schools that had a “serious violent incident,” defined as attacks using weapons, sexual violence, and robbery rose 6 percent during this period.

Last year, Portantino worked with the Pasadena Police Department on expanding anti recidivism legislation that was signed into law by Governor Newsom. In the past, he has worked with the California Police Chiefs Association on efforts to end the “open carry” loopholes in State Law.