Colorado Gov. Jared Polis Signs Bills Tackling School Safety, Mental Health Issues

A police vehicle is seen in front of the Boulder High School after police responded to an unconfirmed report of an active shooter in Boulder, Colo., on Feb. 22, 2023. (Kevin Mohatt/Reuters)

Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed bills into law on Friday addressing mental health issues and school safety measures following multiple national school shootings and threats on state school campuses.

Gov. Polis signed Senate Bill 23-241, which will aid schools in preparing and preventing emergency and crisis situations through various training and supportive services and add a new state-level Office of School Safety, the bill states.

“Today we are taking some important steps to help make Colorado one of the ten safest states and building upon the ongoing work to make Colorado communities safer," Governor Polis said in a statement.

“Last year, I was proud to sign a comprehensive public safety plan of action into law to put Colorado on track to becoming one of the ten safest states in the nation, and this legislation today will improve public safety and reduce gun violence. I thank the bill sponsors for bringing this common-sense legislation to my desk.”

Student leaders across Denver had called on lawmakers to improve school safety, as many campuses have experienced increased shooting threats or incidents in the 2022-23 school year, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis speaks at a news conference in Boulder, Colo., on Dec. 31, 2021. (Nathan Frandino/Reuters)

In response to such incidents, hundreds of Denver public school students marched to the Colorado Capitol in early April to testify in favor of gun reform, reported Colorado Newsline.

Democrat State Sen. Jeff Bridges said he has a personal connection with victims of gun violence in schools.

“Kids can’t learn when they don’t feel safe,” Bridges said in a statement.

“I had a friend who hid in the choir room at Columbine for hours. A few years after I graduated from Arapahoe High School, Claire Davis was killed there, and Kendrick Castillo died protecting his classmates at the STEM school just steps outside of my district. School safety is deeply personal to me and my constituents,” he said.

“This bill dramatically expands the capabilities of our existing school safety programs, and puts them together so they have the collaboration, communication, and coordination they need to more effectively keep Colorado kids safe.”

The Office of School Safety will provide students with a new Youth Violence Prevention Grant Program, which will provide grants of up to $100,000 for schools, community organizations, and local governments to address youth violence.

The new office will also provide emergency response resources for schools and the community.

Republican leaders have disagreed with the bill, saying it goes against Colorado residents’ right to defend themselves and makes neighborhoods even more unsafe.

“Republican House leaders Gov Polis just signed FOUR Anti-2nd Amendment bills into law. This not only makes our communities LESS safe, but also lacks support by the public, as shown by the hundreds from around Colorado who expressed their opposition to HB1230. #coleg #copolitics,” the Colorado House Republicans said via Twitter.

‘School Safety-Focused Effort’

The governor also signed Senate Bill 23-70 into law, which requires school resource officers complete training from the Attorney General’s office on how to better utilize the state-run Safe2Tell service.

“We know that while of course our school districts, our local police departments or sheriff’s departments take school safety very seriously, we know that the state needs to step up and help,” Gov. Polis said during the signing of the bill.

“And what this bill does is we’re going to create a school safety-focused effort and office that will be responsive, help educate districts about best practices—really up the bar on student safety across the state of Colorado.”

Democrat Senator Chris Kolker, the sponsor of the bill, said the program will improve training for professionals who are helping support students.

“As a parent, keeping our students and our schools safe is one of my top priorities, and the Safe2Tell program is a critical avenue for kids to report issues and concerns they are having in school or at home,” Kolker said in a statement.

“In order for the program to work best, the adults receiving this information must have the best training possible. This new law will ensure that school resource officers are well-equipped to handle these tough situations, and will make our schools and our communities safer as a result.”