Representative Gayle Manning Applauds Governor DeWine's Signing of HB 123 to Law by Executive Order

COLUMBUS— State Representative Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) today applauded Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s issuing of an executive order to create a specialized division of Ohio Homeland Security (OHS) devoted exclusively to the safety of Ohio’s students and schools.

The new Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC) is a statewide office in Ohio that will focus on improving the safety of our schools. The OSSC will help local schools and law enforcement in the prevention, preparation, and response to violent threats and acts, including self-harm.

“I am pleased to have been a part of Governor DeWine’s press conference and witness him sign the executive order,” said Rep. Manning. “As a retired teacher of 37 years, mother of two, and grandmother of three, I understand the importance of school safety and protecting Ohio’s students.”

The OSSC would be headquartered in Columbus at the OHS offices within the Ohio Department of Public Safety. OSSC staff will annually review approximately 5,500 school emergency management plans and offer free risk and vulnerability assessments to schools throughout the state, as the OHS staff has done previously.

Additionally, the OSSC staff would:

• Promote and expand use of the SaferOH Tip Line
• Proactively scan social media and websites for threats to schools
• Review emergency management plans and implement threat assessment team training
• Consolidate school safety resources in a centralized location via an enhanced website
• Host an annual school safety summit

The executive order by Governor DeWine also includes the creation of the Ohio School Safety Working Group. This group would be comprised of public safety, education, mental health, emergency management, and other field experts. Meeting quarterly, the group would meet to discuss current issues and trends regarding school safety and local needs and would assist with the development of a yearly report on the state of school safety in Ohio.

Representative Manning authored HB 123, the Safety and Violence Education for Students Act (SAVE for Students Act) with Glenn Holmes (D-McDonald). This legislation ensures all schools serving grades 6-12 are provided with a model threat assessment policy and threat assessment trainings. It also requires schools serving grades 6-12 to administer annual youth violence prevention trainings each year and to train teachers on suicide awareness and prevention. In addition, the legislation establishes an anonymous reporting program.