COLUMBUS – Amid a rash of school and campus shooting incidents in various locations, two Ohio lawmakers are pushing a bill that would require safety measures be included in designs of new school buildings in the state, even before construction begins.
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Representatives John Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake) and Rick Perales (R-Beavercreek) testified before the House Education Committee Tuesday on legislation they say would increase safety for students and educators.
“I believe this bill is a common sense and proactive approach to addressing the safety of our children, teachers and staff,” said Rogers, the bill’s co-sponsor. “I am proud of the coalition of support this bill has received from Republicans and Democrats, teachers, members of law enforcement and military veterans.”
“Based on my background as both a military civil engineer and the executive director of facilities at the University of Dayton, I believe this bill is both a practical and low-cost solution to active shooter situations,” said Perales, a civil engineer and veteran.
House Bill 192 would require that at least two of the following safety features be included in new school design and construction:
Surveillance video and/or entryway metal detectors.
Direct entrance and exit routes within classrooms.
Two-way communication systems between classrooms and administrative offices.
Real-time notification devices, such as a “panic button,” accessible to classrooms to directly alert local law enforcement agencies.
Means of threat containment, which could include a barrier system to lock down portions of the building wherein a threat has been identified.
Currently, Ohio does not require specified safety features, other than fire suppression systems, to be included in the design of school buildings, Rogers and Perales said.