Columbus’ new state representative was among House committee members voting unanimously to move a bill forward to help police respond more quickly to school emergencies.
As a member of the House Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee, Rep. Ryan Lauer, R-Columbus, said he offered his full support to House Bill 1225.
Authored by Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon, the measure would allow schools to apply for state grants to implement emergency alert systems in cooperation with a local sheriff’s department. Those grants would pay for sophisticated systems where administrators, teachers and other staff could use a single app on their smartphones to notify police of an emergency.
Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers and his chief deputy, Maj. Chris Lane, attended the house committee meeting on Tuesday where the bill was eventually approved 13-0 by the committee. It will next go to the full house for consideration.
“It’s a really great way to increase response time,” Lauer said. “With today’s technology, a signal can go out to all law enforcement in the immediate vicinity, instead of just to a 911 emergency dispatcher. This means off-duty officers, FBI agents, and Homeland Security personnel, as well as city, county and state officers.”
No matter how good a emergency call center may be, there is still a delay between dispatchers collecting information and sending officers to the call. That’s what John Jokantas, communications director for the Hancock County 9-1-1 Office, told committee members.
“With apps like this, we take that timing out,” Jokantas said. “You’re taking potentially 30 to 60 seconds … every 15 seconds an active shooter is allowed to keep going, there is potential for another victim.”
Besides the local sheriff’s department, Lauer said he has discussed the proposal with Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Superintendent Jim Roberts twice. While Lauer complimented the BCSC school board for measures they’ve already undertaken to improve school safety, he said there are more opportunities available through this funding.
While the proposal is meant to address the worst possible circumstances to address active shooter scenarios, Lauer said the technology could also be used to save lives during medical emergencies.
Lauer said he and others on the committee worked on an amendment to the bill that ensures that both public and private schools can apply for these grants.
Steuerwald wanted to clarify that using the grant for alert systems is a local decision. The state is not requiring schools to implement systems nor creating a statewide system.
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Third House sessions, in which local residents may meet with legislators about pending legislation, are planned the fourth Monday of each month during the 2019 session of the Indiana General Assembly.
Upcoming sessions are Feb. 25, March 25 and April 22 at 7:30 a.m. in the Cal Brand meeting room on the first floor of Columbus City Hall.
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