School safety bill passes Washington senate

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A new school safety bill moving through the Washington legislature passed the senate Wednesday morning.

Senator Mike Padden of Spokane Valley sponsored Senate Bill 6410. Under the measure, first responders would be required to notify both public and private schools during any situation in their vicinity that would warrant an evacuation or lockdown.

The bill would also create two school safety centers – one in eastern Washington and one in western Washington. The centers would provide assistance and resources related to behavioral health, threat assessment and suicide prevention. In addition, the bill would permit private schools to contract with the regional school-safety centers for those services.

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