(photo) Sen. Hwang: Wednesday Public Hearing on Safe Schools Bill

Bernard Reidy, Seamus Reidy, Siobhan Reidy, Maureen Reidy and Sen. Tony Hwang.

A Bipartisan Pitch for Safer CT Schools Legislation

Residents Encouraged to Submit Testimony

Following a wave of bomb and violent threats made recently at schools across the state and throughout our country, area state lawmakers and a Sandy Hook family on Feb. 25 spoke at the State Capitol in favor of making schools safer in Connecticut.

Sen. Tony Hwang (R-28th) and Rep. William Tong (D-147th), said that proposed Senate Bill 246, An Act concerning the Zero-Tolerance Safe School Environment would increase the penalties for when a threat involves a preschool, K-12 school or an institution of higher education. The bill would make threats made against a school a class C felony that carries up to 10 years in prison. A similar bill last year secured the unanimous backing of the Senate but never came up for a vote in the House.

“These threats of violence against schools highlight the need to get tougher,” said Sen. Hwang, a co-sponsor of the legislation. “The threats have been made in Fairfield, Stamford, Newtown and across Connecticut. The devastating impact to the psyches of parents, educators and children in a school environment is absolutely, positively unacceptable. If someone does commit such a despicable act, they should face severe penalties that bring the punishment more in line with the crime. The threats in Connecticut and around the country reinforce the need to strengthen our laws in this area.”

Sandy Hook residents Bernard and Maureen Reidy urged passage of the proposal, noting that the state can “send a strong message that we will not tolerate threats of violence against our schools and that we’re serious about protecting our children, teachers and administrators.”

The bill receives a public hearing Wednesday, Mar. 2 at 1:00 P.M. at the Gen Re Auditorium, University of Connecticut, 1 University Place, Stamford.

To testify via email:
1) Submit testimony via email to: [email protected]
2) Testimony can be brief and personal.
3) Include your name and town.
4) In the subject line, refer to the bill as Senate Bill 246
5) Feel free to copy Sen. Hwang at [email protected]

To review the full bill text: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2016/TOB/s/2016SB-00246-R00-SB.htm