On Monday, Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns, along with other officials and community members, introduced a comprehensive school safety plan. This plan includes a statewide student information sharing database, the formation of threat assessment teams in schools, and the requirement for an anonymous reporting app. It also addresses physical security needs, increases penalties for making terroristic threats, and promotes responsible firearm ownership.

Speaker Jon Burns emphasized the importance of this plan, recalling the tragedy at Apalachee High School and affirming the commitment to ensuring safety for all students, parents, and teachers. The plan covers several key areas.

The School and Student Safety Database will help evaluate students who may pose threats while safeguarding their privacy. Threat assessment teams will consist of school staff, mental health professionals, and law enforcement to manage potential threats. Schools must use an anonymous reporting app for tips to be quickly evaluated.

The plan also includes $50 million in funding for school safety grants, creates mental health coordinator roles, mandates suspensions for students making threats, and offers tax incentives for safe storage of firearms, promoting responsible ownership. This plan aims to secure a safe learning environment for Georgia’s students.