FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 21, 2020) – In an effort to better protect children at schools throughout the Commonwealth, Gov. Andy Beshear signed the school safety measure Senate Bill 8 into law Friday.
The bill, which received bipartisan support among state lawmakers, passing the Senate 34-1 and the House 78-8, requires the sworn law enforcement officers already serving in Kentucky schools, in accordance with the passage of SB 1 in 2019, to be armed and requires standards for security and training.
“We cannot ask a school resource officer to be in a school to stop an armed shooter if they are not armed themselves,” Gov. Beshear said at the Capitol. “But we understand that there are some children in our schools that don’t feel safe because of the presence of an armed officer. And that is something we must address.”
Gov. Beshear and top administration officials have met with those concerned about the bill and have vowed to continue listening to those concerns as the curriculum for the training for these officers is developed.
The following is a statement from Kentucky Senate Education Chairman Max Wise regarding the signing of Senate Bill 8 into law:
“The signing of Senate Bill 8 into law is an incredibly important day for the Commonwealth. This new legislation, which goes into effect immediately, is crucial to the General Assembly’s continued efforts to protect Kentucky’s children, teachers and staff by improving the safety of our schools. I am appreciative of all those who provided the necessary input and support to see this measure come to fruition.”
“The signing of Senate Bill 8 into law is an incredibly important day for the Commonwealth. This new legislation, which goes into effect immediately, is crucial to the General Assembly’s continued efforts to protect Kentucky’s children, teachers and staff by improving the safety of our schools. I am appreciative of all those who provided the necessary input and support to see this measure come to fruition.”
