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[House Report 110-821]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

110th Congress                                            Rept. 110-821
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                      Part 1

======================================================================

 
                 SCHOOL SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS ACT OF 2008

                                _______
                                

                 August 1, 2008.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

    Mr. Conyers, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 2352]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 2352) to enhance the safety of elementary schools, 
secondary schools, and institutions of higher education, having 
considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment 
and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
The Amendment....................................................     2
Purpose and Summary..............................................     3
Background and Need for the Legislation..........................     3
Hearings.........................................................     4
Committee Consideration..........................................     4
Committee Votes..................................................     5
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     5
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................     5
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................     5
Performance Goals and Objectives.................................     7
Constitutional Authority Statement...............................     7
Advisory on Earmarks.............................................     7
Section-by-Section Analysis......................................     7
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............     8
Additional Views.................................................    11

                             The Amendment

  The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``School Safety Enhancements Act of 
2008''.

    TITLE I--ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS

SEC. 101. GRANT PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL SECURITY.

  Section 2701 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797a) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (b)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) by striking ``Placement'' and inserting 
                        ``Installation''; and
                          (ii) by inserting ``surveillance equipment,'' 
                        after ``detectors,'';
                  (B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); 
                and
                  (C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
          ``(5) Establishment of hotlines or tiplines for the reporting 
        of potentially dangerous students and situations.'';
          (2) by striking subsection (d)(1) and inserting the 
        following:
          ``(1) The Federal share of the costs of a program provided by 
        a grant under subsection (a) shall be not more than 80 percent 
        of the total of such costs.''; and
          (3) by adding at the end the following:
  ``(g) Interagency Task Force.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
of enactment of the School Safety Enhancements Act of 2008, the 
Director and the Secretary of Education, or the designee of the 
Secretary, shall establish an interagency task force to develop and 
promulgate a set of advisory school safety guidelines. The advisory 
school safety guidelines shall be published in the Federal Register by 
not later than one year after such date of enactment. In developing the 
final advisory school safety guidelines, the interagency task force 
shall consult with stakeholders and interested parties, including 
parents, teachers, and agencies.''.

SEC. 102. APPLICATIONS.

  Section 2702(a)(2) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act 
of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797b(a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
          ``(2) be accompanied by a report, signed by the chief 
        education officer and the attorney general or other chief law 
        enforcement executive of the State, unit of local government, 
        or Indian tribe, certifying that each proposed use of the grant 
        funds will be--
                  ``(A) an effective means for improving the safety of 
                one or more schools;
                  ``(B) consistent with a comprehensive approach to 
                preventing school violence; and
                  ``(C) individualized to the needs of each school at 
                which those improvements are to be made.''.

SEC. 103. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.

  Section 2703 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797c) is amended by striking ``and the activities for 
which those funds were used'' and inserting ``and a detailed 
itemization of how those funds were utilized''.

SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  Section 2705 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797e) is amended by striking ``$30,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2001 through 2009'' and inserting ``$50,000,000 for each 
of the fiscal years 2009 and 2010''.

SEC. 105. ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT.

  Paragraph (5) of section 2701(b) of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797a(b)) (as amended by section 
101 of this Act) is further amended by inserting ``, including 
hazardous conditions'' after ``and situations''.

SEC. 106. ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT TO THE GRANT PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL 
                    SECURITY.

  Section 2701(b) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797a(b)) (as amended by sections 101 and 105 of this 
Act) is further amended by inserting after paragraph (4) the following 
new paragraph (and redesignating the succeeding paragraphs 
accordingly):
          ``(5) Development and implementation of safety measures to 
        protect students in the event of a terrorist attack or other 
        hazardous condition or situation.''.

            TITLE II--HIGHER EDUCATION SECURITY ENHANCEMENT

SEC. 201. REQUIREMENT FOR CAMPUS SAFETY ASSESSMENTS.

  Section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
  ``(h) Campus Safety Assessment.--Each eligible institution 
participating in any program under this title shall conduct an annual 
campus safety assessment that shall be prepared through consultation 
between the institution's staff, including safety and security 
personnel, and local law enforcement officials.''.

SEC. 202. REQUIREMENT FOR CAMPUS EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS.

  Section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended in 
section 201 (20 U.S.C. 1092), is further amended by adding at the end 
the following:
  ``(i) Campus Emergency Response Plan.--Each eligible institution 
participating in any program under this title shall develop and 
implement a campus emergency response plan to address a comprehensive 
set of emergency situations, including the following:
          ``(1) Natural disasters.
          ``(2) Active shooter situations.
          ``(3) Terrorist attacks.''.

                          Purpose and Summary

    H.R. 2352, the ``School Safety Enhancements Act of 2008,'' 
will enhance the safety of elementary schools, secondary 
schools, and institutions of higher education. The bill amends 
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to 
reauthorize and modify the school security grant program. It 
also creates an interagency task force to develop and 
promulgate a set of advisory school safety guidelines. Finally, 
it amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require 
participating institutions to conduct annual campus safety 
assessments and develop and implement a campus emergency 
response plan.

                Background and Need for the Legislation

    Violence in our schools continues at an alarming rate. Over 
the last decade, horrific instances of school shootings and 
other violent crimes have occurred in at least 27 States. 
Ensuring the safety of our students and teachers at all levels 
of education is a paramount concern to local, State, and 
Federal Governments.
    H.R. 2352, the ``School Safety Enhancements Act of 2008,'' 
will enhance the safety of our Nation's elementary schools, 
secondary schools, and institutions of higher education. It 
accomplishes this objective by: (1) increasing the amount of 
funding available for school safety; (2) making those funds 
more accessible to poorer communities; (3) expanding the 
purposes for which such funding may be used; (4) establishing 
an interagency task force to develop and promulgate advisory 
school safety guidelines; and (5) requiring higher education 
institutions to conduct annual campus safety assessments and 
develop and implement campus emergency response plans.
    The bill increases the Federal portion of such funding from 
50 percent to 80 percent, which thereby decreases the non-
federal portion from 50 percent to 20 percent. According to the 
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office of the 
Department of Justice (which administers the Secure Our Schools 
grants), many of the communities most in need have been unable 
to participate in the program because they could not afford the 
previously required 50 percent non-federal grant match. This 
revision to the ratio of non-federal funding is more in line 
with the COPS traditional ratio, and should facilitate greater 
participation in the program.
    To prevent future tragedies at schools, H.R. 2352 
authorizes additional uses for grant funds, such as the 
installation of surveillance equipment, and the establishment 
of hotlines for the reporting of potentially dangerous students 
and situations. The bill also authorizes grant funds to be used 
to develop and implement safety measures at schools to address 
various types of dangerous incidents, including hazardous 
chemical and biological situations.
    In addition, H.R. 2352 requires that each grant application 
be accompanied by a report, signed not only by the chief 
education officer, but also by the attorney general, or other 
chief law enforcement executive of the State, unit of local 
government, or Indian tribe seeking the grant. These 
individuals must certify that the requested grant funds will: 
(1) be an effective means for improving school safety; (2) be 
consistent with a comprehensive approach to preventing school 
violence; and (3) address the individualized needs of the 
school receiving the grants. This certification requirement 
should help ensure that the chief law enforcement officer 
responsible for responding to incidents of school violence also 
has ``up-front'' involvement in developing measures to prevent 
such violence. In recognition of the value of an 
interdisciplinary approach to school safety, the bill 
establishes an interagency task force so that the Department of 
Justice can work with education agencies and other interested 
stakeholders, such as parents and teachers, in developing 
advisory school safety guidelines.
    Finally, while many higher education institutions have 
emergency safety plans and conduct annual safety assessments, 
not all do. To ensure that all institutions of higher education 
are meeting these minimal requirements for the safety of 
students, the legislation requires all participating 
institutions to implement these minimal safety standards.

                                Hearings

    The Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security held 1 day of hearings on H.R. 2352, the 
``School Safety Enhancements Act of 2008,'' on April 17, 2008. 
Testimony was received from Representative Steven R. Rothman 
(D-NJ), the sponsor of the bill.

                        Committee Consideration

    On May 13, 2008, the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security met in open session and ordered the bill, 
H.R. 2352, favorably reported, with an amendment, by voice 
vote, a quorum being present. On May 14, 2008, the Committee 
met in open session and ordered the bill, H.R. 2352, favorably 
reported with an amendment, by voice vote, a quorum being 
present.

                            Committee Votes

    In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the Committee advises that there 
were no recorded votes during the Committee's consideration of 
H.R. 2352.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the 
findings and recommendations of the Committee, based on 
oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the 
descriptive portions of this report.

               New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures

    Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is inapplicable because this legislation does 
not provide new budgetary authority or increased tax 
expenditures.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee sets forth, with 
respect to the bill, H.R. 2352, the following estimate and 
comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                     Washington, DC, June 30, 2008.
Hon. John Conyers, Jr., Chairman,
Committee on the Judiciary,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2352, the ``School 
Safety Enhancements Act of 2008.''
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark 
Grabowicz, who can be reached at 226-2860.
            Sincerely,
                                           Peter R. Orszag,
                                                  Director.
Enclosure.

cc:
        Honorable Lamar S. Smith,
        Ranking Member.
H.R. 2352--School Safety Enhancements Act of 2008

                                SUMMARY

    H.R. 2352 would authorize the appropriation of $50 million 
for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010 for the Department of 
Justice to make grants to State, local, and tribal governments 
for programs to improve school security. Current law authorizes 
funding for this program through fiscal year 2009; the existing 
2009 authorization is for $30 million. CBO estimates that 
implementing H.R. 2352 would cost $63 million over the 2009-
2013 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts. 
Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or receipts.
    H.R. 2352 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).

                ESTIMATED COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

    The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 2352 is shown in the 
following table. For this estimate, CBO assumes that the 
amounts authorized by H.R. 2352 will be appropriated by the 
beginning of each fiscal year and that outlays will follow the 
historical spending rates for these activities. The cost of 
this legislation falls within budget function 750 
(administration of justice).

                                     By Fiscal Year, in Millions of Dollars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   2008    2009    2010    2011    2012    2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Spending Under Current Law
  Budget Authority/Authorization Level\1\                             15      30       0       0       0       0
  Estimated Outlays                                                   14      18      16      10       6       4

Proposed Changes
  Estimated Authorization Level                                        0      20      50       0       0       0
  Estimated Outlays                                                    0       4      17      19      13      10

Spending Under H.R. 2352
  Budget Authority/Authorization Level                                15      50      50       0       0       0
  Estimated Outlays                                                   14      22      33      29      19      14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. The 2008 level is the amount appropriated for that year for school security grants. The 2009 level is the
  amount authorized in current law for this program.

              INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND PRIVATE-SECTOR IMPACT

    H.R. 2352 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in UMRA. Provisions in the bill would 
benefit State, local, and tribal governments by extending and 
increasing the authorization for a grant program to improve 
school safety and by reducing the required match to participate 
in that program. Assuming appropriation of the authorized 
amounts, those governments would receive $63 million over the 
2009-2013 period. Any associated costs or requirements on those 
governments would be incurred voluntarily as a condition of 
receiving federal assistance.

                         ESTIMATE PREPARED BY:

Federal Costs: Mark Grabowicz (226-2860)
Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Burke Doherty 
    (225-3220)
Impact on the Private Sector: Corey T. Ponder and Patrice 
    Gordon (226-2940)

                         ESTIMATE APPROVED BY:

Theresa Gullo
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis

                    Performance Goals and Objectives

    The Committee states that pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H.R. 
2352 will: (1) re-authorize and expand the school safety grant 
program for two additional years; (2) create an interagency 
task force to promulgate advisory school safety guidelines 
within 1 year of enactment; and (3) require participating 
higher education institutions to conduct annual campus safety 
assessments and implement a campus emergency response plan.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee finds the authority for 
this legislation in article I, section 8 of the Constitution.

                          Advisory on Earmarks

    In accordance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, H.R. 2352 does not contain any 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of Rule XXI.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

    The following discussion describes the bill as reported by 
the Committee.
    Sec. 1. Short Title. Section 1 sets forth the short title 
of the bill as the ``School Safety Enhancements Act of 2008.''
    Sec. 101. Grant Programs for School Security. Section 101 
amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 
to expand the purposes for which grant money may be expended, 
to include the installation of surveillance equipment and the 
establishment of hotlines or tiplines for the reporting of 
potentially dangerous students and situations. This section 
changes existing language regarding authorized use of grant 
money from ``placement and use'' of metal detectors, locks, 
lighting, and other deterrent measures to the ``installation 
and use'' of these items. Section 101 also increases the 
Federal share of the costs of the program from 50 percent to 
not more than 80 percent.
    In addition, this provision directs the Director and the 
Secretary of Education to establish, not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment, an interagency task force to 
develop and promulgate a set of advisory school safety 
guidelines. In developing these guidelines, the task force must 
consult with stakeholders and interested parties, including 
parents, teachers, and agencies. Within 1 year after the date 
of enactment, the advisory school safety guidelines must be 
published in the Federal Register.
    Sec. 102. Applications. Section 102 amends the Omnibus 
Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to add a requirement 
that each grant application be accompanied by a report, signed 
by the chief education officer and the attorney general or 
other chief law enforcement executive of the State, unit of 
local government, or Indian tribe. The certification must state 
that the proposed uses of the funds will be: (1) an effective 
means for improving school safety; (2) consistent with a 
comprehensive approach to preventing school violence; and (3) 
individualized to the needs of each school at which the 
improvements will be made.
    Sec. 103. Annual Report to Congress. Section 103 amends the 
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to require 
that each annual report to Congress include a detailed 
itemization of how the grant funds were utilized.
    Sec. 104. Authorization of Appropriations. Section 104 
increases the authorized funding from $30 million to $50 
million for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.
    Sec. 105. Additional Amendment. Section 105 amends the 
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 by expressly 
stating that hotlines and tiplines may be used for reporting 
hazardous conditions.
    Sec. 106. Additional Amendment to the Grant Program for 
School Security. Section 106 amends the Omnibus Crime Control 
and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to permit grant money to be used 
for the development and implementation of safety measures to 
protect students in the event of a terrorist attack or other 
hazardous condition or situation.
    Sec. 201. Requirement for Campus Safety Assessments. 
Section 201 amends the Higher Education Act by requiring each 
eligible institution participating in any program under this 
title to conduct an annual campus safety assessment prepared 
through consultation between the institution's staff, including 
safety and security personnel, and local law enforcement 
officials.
    Sec. 202. Requirement for Campus Emergency Response Plans. 
Section 202 amends the Higher Education Act by requiring each 
eligible institution participating in any program under this 
title to develop and implement a campus emergency response plan 
to address a comprehensive set of emergency situations, 
including natural disasters, active shooter situations, and 
terrorist attacks.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

               OMNIBUS CRIME CONTROL AND SAFE STREETS ACT

                                OF 1968

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE I--JUSTICE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          PART AA--MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL SECURITY

SEC. 2701. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

  (a) * * *
  (b) Uses of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section shall 
be distributed directly to the State, unit of local government, 
or Indian tribe, and shall be used to improve security at 
schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the 
grantee through one or more of the following:
          (1) [Placement] Installation and use of metal 
        detectors, surveillance equipment, locks, lighting, and 
        other deterrent measures.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (5) Development and implementation of safety measures 
        to protect students in the event of a terrorist attack 
        or other hazardous condition or situation.
          (6) Establishment of hotlines or tiplines for the 
        reporting of potentially dangerous students and 
        situations, including hazardous conditions.
          [(5)] (7) Any other measure that, in the 
        determination of the Director, may provide a 
        significant improvement in security.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (d) Matching Funds.--
          [(1) The portion of the costs of a program provided 
        by a grant under subsection (a) may not exceed 50 
        percent.]
          (1) The Federal share of the costs of a program 
        provided by a grant under subsection (a) shall be not 
        more than 80 percent of the total of such costs.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (g) Interagency Task Force.--Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of the School Safety Enhancements Act of 
2008, the Director and the Secretary of Education, or the 
designee of the Secretary, shall establish an interagency task 
force to develop and promulgate a set of advisory school safety 
guidelines. The advisory school safety guidelines shall be 
published in the Federal Register by not later than one year 
after such date of enactment. In developing the final advisory 
school safety guidelines, the interagency task force shall 
consult with stakeholders and interested parties, including 
parents, teachers, and agencies.

SEC. 2702. APPLICATIONS.

  (a) In General.--To request a grant under this part, the 
chief executive of a State, unit of local government, or Indian 
tribe shall submit an application to the Director at such time, 
in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
Director may require. Each application shall--
          (1) * * *
          [(2) be accompanied by an assurance that the 
        application was prepared after consultation with 
        individuals not limited to law enforcement officers 
        (such as school violence researchers, child 
        psychologists, social workers, teachers, principals, 
        and other school personnel) to ensure that the 
        improvements to be funded under the grant are--
                  [(A) consistent with a comprehensive approach 
                to preventing school violence; and
                  [(B) individualized to the needs of each 
                school at which those improvements are to be 
                made.]
          (2) be accompanied by a report, signed by the chief 
        education officer and the attorney general or other 
        chief law enforcement executive of the State, unit of 
        local government, or Indian tribe, certifying that each 
        proposed use of the grant funds will be--
                  (A) an effective means for improving the 
                safety of one or more schools;
                  (B) consistent with a comprehensive approach 
                to preventing school violence; and
                  (C) individualized to the needs of each 
                school at which those improvements are to be 
                made.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

SEC. 2703. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.

  Not later than November 30th of each year, the Director shall 
submit a report to the Congress regarding the activities 
carried out under this part. Each such report shall include, 
for the preceding fiscal year, the number of grants funded 
under this part, the amount of funds provided under those 
grants, [and the activities for which those funds were used] 
and a detailed itemization of how those funds were utilized.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

SEC. 2705. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
part [$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2009] 
$50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              

                      HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE IV--STUDENT ASSISTANCE

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

Part G--General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

SEC. 485. INSTITUTIONAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INFORMATION FOR 
                    STUDENTS.

  (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (h) Campus Safety Assessment.--Each eligible institution 
participating in any program under this title shall conduct an 
annual campus safety assessment that shall be prepared through 
consultation between the institution's staff, including safety 
and security personnel, and local law enforcement officials.
  (i) Campus Emergency Response Plan.--Each eligible 
institution participating in any program under this title shall 
develop and implement a campus emergency response plan to 
address a comprehensive set of emergency situations, including 
the following:
          (1) Natural disasters.
          (2) Active shooter situations.
          (3) Terrorist attacks.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                            Additional Views

    We join the Majority in support of this School Safety bill. 
Each day, roughly 160,000 children miss school because they are 
afraid of a violent incident, 100,000 children take a weapon to 
school, 14,000 young people are attacked on school property, 
6,250 teachers are threatened, and 260 teachers are assaulted. 
In the wake of the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech and a 
recent rash of violence in public places, federally funded 
school safety programs can provide invaluable resources to 
schools and local law enforcement to help keep schools safer.
    H.R. 2352, the School Safety Enhancements Act of 2008, 
provides grants for the placement and use of surveillance 
equipment in schools and hotlines or tiplines for reporting 
dangerous students or situations. The bill also increases the 
Secure Our Schools program authorization level and requires 
each college or university to (1) conduct an annual campus 
safety assessment in consultation with local law enforcement 
officials; and (2) develop and implement a campus emergency 
response plan.
    We had concerns with some provisions in the bill, but our 
colleagues in the Majority worked with us to address those 
concerns. Together, we crafted amendments that removed 
problematic language regarding federal funding for capital 
improvements to state and local facilities, rewrote the 
provision that outlines the uses of funds to allow grants to 
the States for the installation of surveillance equipment, and 
improved the section that establishes an interagency task force 
on school safety to require the task force to provide advisory 
guidelines within a year of enactment.
    We appreciate the Majority's willingness to address our 
concerns and support the passage of H.R. 2352 as reported.

                                   Lamar Smith.
                                   Steve Chabot.

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