Senator Fasano Applauds Advancement of Bill to Enhance School Safety

April 11, 2018

Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven) applauded the General Assembly’s advancement of legislation to equip every Connecticut public school with multimedia interoperable communication systems.

The legislation, approved by the Finance Committee, includes funding for systems to enhance school safety by providing direct communication between school personnel and first responders. The bill was voted out of the Finance Committee last week and will now move to the State Senate for a vote by the full state legislature.

“I want to thank the Finance Committee for recognizing the importance of investing in protections for schools across the state,” said Sen. Fasano. “There is new technology available today that can make our schools safer and more prepared to respond to a wide range of situations. Advancing this legislation marks an important step forward to assist schools across the state protect the safety of our children.”

Senate Bill 12: An Act Authorizing And Adjusting Bonds Of The State For Capital Improvements And Other Purposes, authorizes $5 million in annual bonding to pay for the installation of equipment in each school. The program will start in Connecticut’s urban schools and will eventually include every public school in the state.

Installing multimedia interoperable communication systems will enable first responders to view live video feeds to better assess situations before arriving at schools. The technology will show the exact location of any incident to improve response time. These systems would connect schools with multiple law enforcement, medical, and emergency rescue organizations to assist in a wide range of potential situations including medical issues, simple disturbances, or serious emergencies.

The bill next moves to the Senate for approval. The bill must be approved by both chambers of the General Assembly before the end of the 2018 legislative session on May 9, 2018.