Protecting Hoosier Schools

Last month, a tragic mass shooting occurred at a school in Florida, and since then, preventing gun violence has become a renewed topic of discussion nationwide.

It is important for Hoosiers to know that Indiana has a number of policies in place to help protect our students and teachers.

We are one of only five states that has a “Red Flag” law, which has been in place since 2005 and is now being considered as a model for other states.

Under the law, police officers can seize firearms with court supervision from people if they believe the person presents a risk to themselves or others, has a mental illness, has a propensity for violence or is emotionally unstable. The law also includes procedures to ensure law enforcement officers cannot wrongly abuse their ability to seize guns.

In addition to the “Red Flag” law, we have a number of resources available for Indiana school districts, including grant funding, school safety specialists and active shooter training.

Grant funding

The General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 1 in 2013, creating the Secured School Grant Fund. The fund, which has provided $39 million to more than 300 school corporations, charter schools and nonpublic schools since its creation, distributes funds to be used for safety equipment and technology, school resource officers and property threat assessments.

School safety specialists

Indiana is one of only two states that requires its school districts to employ a certified safety specialist, and the Indiana Department of Education provides annual training to ensure the specialists are able to perform their duties.

Active shooter training

The Indiana State Police provide a free, nationally recognized training program that focuses on active-shooter preparedness to schools, businesses and community groups upon request.

Protecting our teachers and students is a top priority for me. My colleagues and I will continue to look for ways to keep our schools safe.

Report Flood Damage

Recent severe storms have caused flooding in many areas of Indiana, resulting in damaged property.

Homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofit organizations can report uninsured damage to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security that occurred on or after Feb. 15.

The information gathered will help county and state agencies determine the scope of the damage and whether state or federal assistance will be available.

Click here to report damage.