WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 387

Relates to making certain public records available on the internet

2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Skoufis

The bill limits SROs to criminal cases only, mandates transparency of school security data and funding, and emphasizes non-punitive, holistic student supports.

REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 387

Summary — S.387 (2025): "An Act Relative to Safer Schools"

Status: Introduced (MA Senate); referred to committee. Hearing scheduled: June 17, 2025.
Note: bill text and sponsorship information in materials include some inconsistent metadata; the bill text presented is a Massachusetts Senate bill (filed Jan. 16, 2025) sponsored by Sen. Robyn K. Kennedy (with co-petitioners listed).

Purpose / Intent

The bill seeks to limit and clarify the role of school resource officers (SROs) and other school-based security personnel, increase transparency and public reporting about law-enforcement activity in schools, promote non-punitive and holistic school safety practices, and require related training and data-guidance development. Overall intent is to reduce criminalization of student behavior and emphasize mental, social, and emotional supports.

Key provisions and changes

  • Limits SRO role in the model Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (amendment to M.G.L. c.71, §37P):

    • Explicitly states SROs and special service officers shall not (i) serve as school disciplinarians or replace licensed school mental-health professionals; or (ii) use police powers to address traditional school discipline issues, including non‑violent disruptive behavior.
    • Establishes the guiding principle for SRO involvement: SROs should be involved only when conduct rises to criminal or delinquent conduct that meets at least one of three criteria:
    • poses substantial harm to another person’s physical well‑being; or
    • is willful and malicious and causes substantial harm to school property; or
    • involves taking property of substantial value with intent to permanently deprive the owner.
    • Requires SRO responses to be guided by techniques (e.g., de-escalation and anti‑bias training) required for SRO certification under G.L. c.6, §116H.

  • Assignment and conditional approval of SROs (amends c.71, §37P(d)):

    • A chief of police shall assign at least one SRO to a school upon superintendent request, subject to DESE approval and appropriation.
    • For regional/charter/county agricultural schools, the chief of police of the municipality where the school sits assigns the officer(s).
    • Annual reporting requirement (by July 16) by superintendents to DESE and public presentation to the school committee, including:
    • cost to the district of assigned SROs, special service officers, and security staff;
    • proposed budget for mental, social, or emotional health support personnel;
    • number of school-based arrests, citations, court referrals, applications for criminal/delinquency complaints, field interviews, searches/seizures, and other interactions leading to disciplinary action or diversion — disaggregated as DESE requires;
    • number of school-related reports entered into local law enforcement computer systems and shared with other agencies (including Boston Regional Information Center and federal fusion centers).
    • Superintendent failure to provide and publicly present required data bars DESE approval of SRO assignments or special service officer appointments until compliance.

  • Data guidance and collaboration:

    • Requires DESE and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, consulting with the model SRO MOU review commission, to jointly develop guidance on compiling these data and to disseminate it to districts and law enforcement.

  • New definitions and emphasis on holistic practices (adds c.71, §37S):

    • Defines “holistic school health and safety practices” as evidence-based, non‑exclusionary strategies that strengthen student-adult relationships, affirm diversity, support non-disciplinary conflict resolution, and avoid reliance on law enforcement.
    • Defines “school-based security personnel” to include SROs, special service officers, and security guards assigned to school premises; clarifies that district-level safety staff overseeing operations are not included.

(Note: the text of §37S is truncated in the provided materials; further provisions may follow.)

Who is affected

  • Public school districts, superintendents, and school committees — new reporting obligations and budget transparency requirements.
  • Local police departments and chief executives — assignment responsibilities and limits on SRO roles.
  • SROs, special service officers, and other school-based security personnel — role restrictions and required use of certified training techniques.
  • Students and families — potential reduction in criminalization of school discipline and increased emphasis on mental and emotional supports.
  • DESE and Executive Office of Public Safety and Security — new oversight and guidance responsibilities.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Bill filed in the Massachusetts Senate (filed Jan. 16, 2025 / introduced Feb. 4, 2025) and referred to relevant committees; hearing scheduled June 17, 2025.
  • Annual superintendent reports required by July 16 each year as a condition for DESE approval of SRO assignments.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.