Rep. Leland condemns House passage of GOP legislation to arm teachers in schools

COLUMBUS—State Rep. David Leland (D-Columbus) issued a statement today following the House passage of House Bill (HB) 99, legislation that would allow teachers and staff to be armed in schools. House Democrats voted against the extreme proposal.

“Sadly, in its current form, HB 99 falls dangerously short of the goal to protect Ohio schoolchildren. It fails to provide sufficient notification to parents about the arming of school personnel, and its woefully inadequate training requirement will actually make our schools less safe,” said Rep. Leland. 

Rep. Leland offered an amendment to HB 99 during session, which would: 

Require schools to notify  parents prior to arming school personnel and to send out annual reminders that teachers and school staff will be armed; and
Require the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission to  develop the training plan for these armed teachers and staff without legislative interference.
 

The amendment was rejected.

During committee hearings, Democrats expressed concern that HB 99 only requires 20 hours of training for armed teachers. In 2014, then-Attorney General Mike DeWine signed off on a recommendation for a model curriculum for such armed teachers and staff requiring no less than 152 hours of training for teachers and school staff who would go armed.

Police, teachers’ unions, civil rights groups and students all testified in opposition to HB 99. 

HB 99 now heads to the Senate for further consideration.