DELAWARE STATE SENATE

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 107

CREATING THE SCHOOL VIOLENCE TASK FORCE TO MAKE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE CHILDREN FEEL SAFE AT SCHOOL FOR ADEQUATE LEARNING TO OCCUR.

WHEREAS, the incidence of unrest and disruption in our nation’s schools is steadily increasing; and

WHEREAS, legislative offices receive reports of violence in schools often; and

WHEREAS, parents often express school safety concerns on social media and through new outlets; and

WHEREAS, children need to feel secure travelling to and from school and within the school building for adequate learning to occur.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 151 ^st General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the Delaware School Violence Task Force (“Task Force”) is created to make findings and recommendations to ensure the safety of children travelling to and from school, and within to school building for adequate learning to occur.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is comprised of the following members, or a designee selected by a member serving by virtue of position:

(1) One member of the majority caucus and 1 member of the minority caucus of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The President Pro Tempore shall appoint 1 member as the chair.

(2) One member of the majority caucus and 1 member of the minority caucus of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House. The Speaker shall appoint 1 member as the chair.

(3) Three members of the public, one from each county, who has a child enrolled in a Delaware private, public, or charter school, appointed by President Pro Tempore.

(4) Secretary of the Department of Education.

(5) Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services.

(6) President of the Delaware School Board Association.

(7) Executive Director of the Delaware Association of School Administrators.

(8) Superintendent of the Delaware State Police.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a member of the Task Force with the ability to designate another individual to attend a Task Force meeting must provide the designation in writing to the chair. An individual attending the meeting for a member as a designee has the same duties and rights as the member.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate notify the individuals authorized to appoint members to the Task Force of their appointing authority.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair of the Task Force be responsible for guiding the administration of the Task Force by, at minimum, doing all the following:

(1) Setting a date, time, and place for initial organizations meeting.

(2) Supervising the preparation and distribution of Committee meeting notices, agendas, minutes, correspondence, and reports.

(3) Sending the President Pro Tempore, Speaker of the House, and the Director of the Division of Research of Legislative Council, after the first meeting of the Task Force, a list of the members of the Task Force and the person who appointed them.

(4) Providing meeting notices, agendas, and minutes to the Director of the Division of Research of Legislative Council.

(5) Ensuring that the final report of the Task Force is submitted to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with copies to all members of the General Assembly, the Governor, the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council, and the Delaware Public Archives.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force must hold its first meeting no later than 60 days after passage.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that that the Task Force make findings and recommendations to ensure the safety of children travelling to and from school, and within to school building for adequate learning to occur.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a quorum of the Task Force is a majority of its members.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that:

(1) Official action by the Task Force, including making findings and recommendations, requires approval of a quorum of the Task Force.

(2) The Task Force may adopt rules necessary for its operation. If the Task Force does not adopt rules or if the adopted rules do not govern a given situation, Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedures controls.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly is responsible for providing reasonable and necessary support staff and materials for the Task Force.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that that the chair must issue a final report containing a summary of the Task Force’s work regarding the issues assigned to it, including any findings and recommendations, and submit the report to the General Assembly, the Governor, and the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council not later than October 31, 2022.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Concurrent Resolution expires 90 days after the Task Force’s first meeting.

SYNOPSIS

This concurrent resolution creates the School Violence Task Force to make findings and recommendations to ensure children feel safe travelling to and from school and within the school building for adequate learning to occur.

Author: Senator Bonini