House committee to discuss safe schools act

A bill that would require school districts to post a notice if an employee is authorized to use deadly force is moving forward at the Capitol.

A house committee is expected to discuss House Bill 2232 at its meeting this evening.

Sponsored by Rep. Robert Ross (R – District 142), HB 2232 “requires any school district authorizing an employee to carry a concealed firearm to post a notice stating that ‘Under Missouri law, this school and its staff are authorized to meet threats to student safety with deadly force if necessary.'”

The bill would also require that parents be informed if there is no armed employee on school grounds. Additionally, it lays out guidelines for hiring new teachers and employees and says that schools must contact the previous employer and ask about policy violations.

The bill comes amid the national debate over arming teachers. However, that plan is already in effect in many Missouri school districts thanks to a 2014 law that allows local school districts to grant CCW privileges to teachers.

ABC 17 News will have more on this story in our evening newscast.