The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 - or STOP School Violence Act - was designated in the Omnibus Spending Bill of 2018. Funding will be available for FY2018 through FY2028 for school safety projects.
The bill outlines key purpose areas for funding in the BJA and COPS Office programs. The full text of the existing measures is quoted below. Additional information is anticipated to be announced in Spring 2018.
The BJA is authorized to make grants for the following purposes:
- Training school personnel and students to prevent student violence against others and self.
- The development and operation of anonymous reporting systems for threats of school violence, including mobile telephone applications, hotlines, and Internet websites.
- The development and operation of—
- School threat assessment and intervention teams that may include coordination with law enforcement agencies and school personnel; and
- Specialized training for school officials in responding to mental health crises.
- Any other measure that, in the determination of the BJA Director, may provide a significant improvement in training, threat assessments and reporting, and violence prevention.
The COPS Office is authorized to make grants for the following purposes:
- Coordination with local law enforcement.
- Training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence against others and self.
- Placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures.
- Acquisition and installation of technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency.
- Any other measure that, in the determination of the COPS Director, may provide a significant improvement in security.
For more information, view the full text of this legislation, starting on page 1971 of the Omnibus Spending Bill at: http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20180319/BILLS-115SAHR1625-RCP115-66.pdf.
None is available.
The bill expressly prohibits grant funding be dedicated to firearms or firearm training to recipients – including training for police officers, school resource officers, teachers, or school staff member.