SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) is spearheading a measure that would further increase student safety by ensuring their local school board’s threat assessment procedures are filed with the local law enforcement agencies that passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday.

“Student safety is a top priority,” Belt said. “With an increase in school shootings, it’s vital that our schools are up to date on procedures and understand what to do in an emergency.”

Currently, each public school district is required to implement a threat assessment procedure that includes the creation of a threat assessment team. The team must consist of an administrator, teacher, school counselor, psychologist, school social worker and at least one law enforcement official.

House Bill 4994 would require each local school board to file the threat assessment procedure and a list of the members on the school district's threat assessment team or regional behavior threat assessment and intervention team with a local law enforcement agency and the regional office of education at the start of each school year. Chicago Public Schools would file the threat assessment procedure and list of members with the Illinois State Board of Education.

“Many school districts already have some type of procedure in place,” Belt said. “However, putting specifics into law ensures all local school boards are on the same page. When an unexpected threat occurs, parents need to know that the school is prepared and has the right resources to protect their kids.”

House Bill 4994 passed the Senate Education Committee and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.