MARYLAND STATE POLICE 1201 RESTERSTOWN ROAD ke SLE. MASA 003000 Aagust 15, 2008 ‘The Honorable Edward J. Kasemeyer Chair Senate Budget and Taxatios Committee Miller Senate Office Buildiag, Suite 3 West 1 Bladen Street ‘Annapolis, MD 21401 ‘The Honorable Maggie L. Metntosh Chair House Appropriations Commitee House Office Building, Room 121 6 Bladen Street ‘Annepolis, MD 21401 Reference: 2018 Joint Crairmen’s Report, pgs. 221-2, Section 43 ~ Report on Evaluation ‘of State Resources Dedicated to School Safety Dear Chairmen Kasemeyer and McIntosh: Inaccordance with the 2018 Joint Chairmen’s Report, page 221, the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) and Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) submit this Evalation of State Resources Dedicated to School Safety report. The Department respectfully recuests that the funds being held pending submission of the report be released. ‘The Maryland General Assembly. working withthe Governor, developed Senate Bill 1265, Maryland Safe to Learn Act of 2018. The comprehensive legislation addresses many of the issues raised by Section 43 of the Budget Bill. The evaluations requested by the Budget Bill cannot be answered in the stort time provided. However, Senate Bill 1265 creates the School Safety Subcabinet, which serves asthe governing board forthe Maryland Center for School Safety (Center) and must provide a report tothe General Assembly on its activities. The legislation expands the membership ofthe existing Advisory Board which advises the Subcabinet in its duties. Beth groups are to work with the Center and local school systems in “Maryland’s Finest”‘The Honorable Edward J. Kasemeyer ‘The Honorable Maggie L. Mcintosh August 15, 2018 Page 2 developing and evaluating plans, funding, training, and schcol safety standards. The Center is also required to report annually tothe General Assembly. It should be pointed out that this reporting requirement of the Joint Chairmen’s Report was added before the passage of Senate Bill 1265, House Bill 1783, and the final version of the State budget. This legislation consolidated school safety funding and operations into the Center and the Interagency Comission on School Construction (IAC), both independent units under the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). These are now the appropriate entities to address issues related to school safety, and not MDSP and GOCCP. ‘Because this structure has just been putin place, tims willbe required to determine whether this isthe most effective model. Further, it would be counterproduetive to the current efforts by MSDE and the Center to comply with the extensive requirements inthe law by recommending changes at this early point. Subject to these limitations, this report will describe the recent requirements and funding. The following specific topics are required to be addressed inthis report: Identify all current State resources and entities available for ensuring, monitoring, and ‘improving the safety of public and private schools; Senate Bill 1265 created the new School Safety Subsabinet which brings State and local resources together to review and establish standards for Stale wide school safety. Ata minimum, the State resources include capital funds, operational funds, and personnel assigned tothe Center appropriated by the Administration and approved by the General Assembly. State entities involved at a minimum are the Board of Public Works, MSDE, Department of Budget and ‘Management, MDSP, Center, Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center (MCAC), and the General Assembly. Each has a rle in providing for safer schools ‘The fiscal year 2019 budget provides $40.6 million n operating and capital funds to improve school safety. The budget, along with Senate Bill 265 and House Bill 1783, consolidate all school safety funding resources within MSDE (operating) and the [AC (capital). Senate Bill 1265 also repurposes the School Safety Enforcement Fund to create a Safe Schools Fund for making grants to local school systems to assist in implementing the bill's provisions. $537.6 million of this Funding is for local school systems, including: (1) $23.5 million for capital improvements to improve school safety and security; (2) $10 milli for additional training and ‘mental health outreach; (3) $2.5 million for grants for mandated safety evaluations; (4) $1 million for schools and day care centers at risk of hate crimes; and (5) $600,000 in curent funding added to the new Safe Schools Fund. {n addition, tie appropriation forthe Center is increased by $2.5 million, to fund 13 new positions required by Senate Bill 1265.‘The Honorable Edward J.Kasemeyer The Honorable Maggie L. Metatosh August 15, 2018 Page 3 Beginning in fiscal year 2020, legislation will equire the following new funding: (1) $2 nillon forthe Center (curently $500,000; (2) $10 millon to fund school rescuce offices; and (8) 310 milion for sehool seurty capital improvements. Evaluate he rote of the Sate in ensuring safety at all public and private schools Senate Bill 1265 provides direction on the State's role in ensuring safety at all public and private schools. The new Subeabinet is dizected to perform a number of functions relating to school safety. ‘The State's role is specified in the legislation and is extensive. The Subeabinet shal: (1) collaborate with local school systems in the Stat, law enforcement agencies, ‘State and local government agencies, community organizations, parents, and olner stakeholders to provide a comprehensive, coordinated approach to schoo! safety; (2) inparership withthe edvisory board and other stakeholders: (0 disseminate information on best practices, programs, and resources; i) provide technical assistance and training to local jurisdictions and local school systems; (Gi) collaborate on collection, analysis, and integration of statewide data; and (iv) promote interagency efforts that support safe schools forall students, ‘school staff, parents, and community members, (3) __ establish asafe school information and best practices clearinghouse of up-to date, research-based, and data-driven information on effective strategies for creating and ‘maintaining safe schools, (4) identity sae school professional staff development best practices; (©) initiate colaborative partnerships and facilitate coordination armong local school systems, law enforcement agencies, State and local government, and community organizations to leverage existing resources to deliver school safety services uniformly to local school systems; (© fester coordination among all entities responsible for ensuring the safety and security of school facilities in the State; (7) istebute grants from the Fund in accordance with § 7-1512 of his subtitle;“The Honorable Edward J. Kasemeyer ‘The Honorable Maggie L. Melntosh August 15, 2018 Page 4 (8) __ collaborate withthe department on the model policy for an assessment team under §7-1507 ofthis subtitle; (9) adopt regulations to define a school security employee for the purpose of the ‘waining and report required for school security employees under § 7-1508 ofthis subtitle; (10) _ provide general oversight and direction to the Center; (11) approve the annual budget for the Center; (12) adopt any regulations necessary to carry outhe subcabinet’s duties under this subtitle; and (13) _ perform other duties assigned by the govern. Establish clearly defined and measurable goals for addressing school safety concerns; ‘Senate Bill 1265 provides thatthe Subcabinet, working with the local schools systems ‘and others, shall be responsible for a numberof tasks. These include the list of items previously mentioned, Evaluate the appropriate level of State funding required to effectively ensure that school safety concerns are addressed; Based on the requirements of Senate Bill 1265 and the funding that has been provided so far, itis understandable that the Subcabinet should evaluate the Funding needs for Future budgets based on its interaction with the State and local partners. Uati the legistation is fully in effect and the Subcabinet begin its mandate, we will not be able to determine whether the current funding is adequate, Evaluate the optimal organizational structure across State government for addressing the issue of school safety, including: (@) which agency should host this functi ‘Senate Bll 1265 specifies that the Center isan independent unit within MSDE and based atthe MCAC.‘The Honorable Edward J. Kasemeyer ‘The Honorable Maggie L. Melntosh August 15,2018 Page 5 (0) whether or not other agencies should have a role, and ifso, what that role should bes Senate Bill 1265 establishes the rote ofthe MSDE, the Subcabine, the Advisory Board, and the Center. Senate Bill 1265 further specifies the responsibilities of local school systems, local governments and local police agencies. (© how many positions are needed and for what purpose; ‘The Guvemr provides 13 new positions i the budget for expanding the Center personnel. The positions were conditional on the passage of Senate Bill 1265. Until the bill is fully implemented we will be unable to address the need for additional positions. (@ how many offices are needed statewide and where they should be located; ‘Senate Bill 1265 establishes thatthe Center shall be based atthe MCAC in Baltimore ‘County and a satelite office shall be located at Bowie State University. The legislature repeated the requirement thatthe Center have statewide regional offices. However, the Subcabinet can determine, based on need, that regional locations may be necessary. (© whether all school safety grant funding should be consolidated; ‘The budgetary and legislative changes during the 2018 session consolidate school safety ‘operating finding within MSDE and capital funding within the IAC. See paragraph (1) above for additional detail on current and future budgetary items. D which agency should administer school safety grants and provide grant oversights See above responses. ‘Make a recommendation regarding the necessity for the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS) and the appropriate State entity to maintain oversight of the operations and funding of the Center, including any necessary statutory changes; Senate Bill 1265 provides thatthe Subeabinet isthe governing beard forthe Center. The Subcabinet is chaired by the State Superintendent and consist ofthe Secretary of MDSP, the ‘Attorney General, the Secretary of the Department of Disabilities, the Secretary of Health, and‘The Honorable Edward J. Kasemeyer ‘The Honorable Maggie L. McIntosh August 15, 2018 Page 6 the Executive Director ofthe IAC. The Subcabinetis advised by the Advisory Board. Any recommendations for legislation or budget changes should be made by the Subcabinet Develop a plan for how to expend the funding allocated to MCSS, including how many positions are needed for MCSS to effectively carry out its mission. ‘The supplemental budget #1 and Senate Bill 1265 provide additional funding and Personnel for the Center. The Subcabinet provides budget oversight. The Subcabinet is required to be involved with the operations of the Center and the local school systems as previously mentioned, Based on those interactions, the Subcabinet, with the guidance of the Center and local participants, can evaluate the future budget needs as the various recommendations for school safety are implemented. Conelusion: With the passage of Senate Bill 1265, House Bill 1783, and the fiscal 2019 budget, the Maryland General Assembly and the Administration have provided a general road map for the entire State to make our schools safer, The duties of the Subeabinet, the Advisory Board, the Center, and local school systems are to develop the specific plans to further define the map. Although this report was designed to answer the need for guidance on the future of school safety initiatives, the Maryland General Assembly in concer with the Administration took he lead by ‘proposing and passing specific legislation to address this need. Senate Bill 1265 and House Bill 1783 went into effect June 1, 2018. The FY 2019 operating budget started July 1,2018. While consolidating efforts to address school safety into the Center and the IAC isa reasonable approach, at this point i is premature to draw any conclusions on the effectiveness 0 these changes. With the support of the Administration, legislature and local governments, our schools should be a great deal safer in the near future While ather states are just getting sated, Maryland has taken the lead and should provide an example tothe rest ofthe country bs Wiliam Pale Votan Fos. supe Execute Diver ‘Mayland Depart Sta Plice Govemors Ofer o Cine Cone and Prevention