SB15-213 Concerning the Limited Waiver of Governmental Immunity for Claims involving Public Schools for Injuries Resulting from Incidents of School Violence known as the Claire Davis School Safety Act. (C.R.S. 24-10-106.3) This Act imposes a limited waiver of sovereign immunity for schools if a school fails to exercise "reasonable care" to protect all students, faculty and staff from "reasonably foreseeable" acts of violence that occurs at school or a school-sponsored activity.
Colorado School Safety Resource Center (CSSRC) Director Chris Harms provides an update on progress and implications that have come out of Colorado SB 15-213 ("The Claire Davis Act", which waives governmental Immunity for acts of school violence) and SB 15-214 (creating the School Safety and Youth Mental Health Committee to study issues related to school safety and the prevention of threats to the safety of students, teachers, administrators, employees and volunteers present on the grounds of public and private schools.)
The School Safety and Youth in Crisis Interim Committee (SSYCIC) met on Friday, January 22 nd to hear a synopsis of the three reports on the Arapahoe High School shooting tragedy. Reports were prepared by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado, Boulder; Safe Havens International and Linda Kanan, Ph.D. with John Nicoletti, Ph.D. Dr. Kanan and Dr. Nicoletti also released Additional Information to SSYCIC.
On Tuesday, September 13, 2016, the interim legislative committee, formed with the passage of SB15-214 (School Safety and Youth Mental Health in Crisis Interim Committee), met at the Capitol. The first item on the agenda was an overview of the report prepared by the working group that reviewed the recommendations of the three reports commissioned after the tragic Arapahoe High School shooting. Read the Full Report
The working group reviewed 158 recommendations agreeing with 119 of them outright and agreeing with an additional 34 with modifications. Five of the recommendations were common to all three of the commissioned reports.
Additionally, of the 158 recommendations, the working group felt that schools would need resources for at least 139 of those suggestions. Rural schools would need considerable resources to fulfill the recommendations.
Please see the Full Report for an explanation under each recommendation of the resources necessary. For some recommendations you will also find "suggested assistance" paragraphs identifying where no- or low- cost resources might be acquired.
The Center would like to thank the 34 members of the working group (found on page 41 of the report) for their incredible dedication to this effort., Many came on their summer break and traveled long distances to attend these meetings. This report would not have been possible without their commitment to the safety of Colorado students. Thank you!
For additional comments or questions about the report, please contact Christine Harms, Director, Colorado School Safety Resource Center directly at 303.239.4534 or christine.harms@state.co.us.
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