Texas Governor Greg Abbott Announces The 'Damon Allen Act'
by, Terra Rivers, Managing Editor
Governor Greg Abbott unveiled his School and Firearm Safety Action Plan in front of local and state leaders at the Hays County Law Enforcement Center in San Marcos Wednesday afternoon.
The Governor’s plan contains 40 recommendations and includes proposals that call for increasing law enforcement presence at schools, strengthening existing campus security programs, enhancing firearm safety, providing mental health evaluations that identify students at risk of harming others and much more.
Wednesday’s announcement, which the Governor unveiled in Dallas and San Marcos, follows a series of roundtable discussions held last week during which the Governor spoke to and received input from victims, parents, educators, lawmakers, law enforcement and policy experts to help generate solutions that improve safety and security at Texas schools.
“Three years ago, almost to the date, we had the flood in Wimberley and the southwest part of our county,” Sheriff Gary Cutler said as he introduced Gov. Abbott. “There were 12 lives lost that day and millions of dollars of property damage. The Governor was there to assist us. He came there. Twelve days ago, we had the incident in Santa Fe; the Governor was there to help out. two days, three days after that, he took a very aggressive approach to the incident that happened.”
Sheriff Cutler said the Hays County Sheriff’s Office appreciated being invited to participate in the roundtable talks.
“What we want to do here as I introduced [Gov. Abbott] is let you know that we are here to support you and our legislators as we do all we can as a group to keep schools safe for our kids,” Cutler said.
The roundtable talks followed the death of two teachers and eight students at Santa Fe High School on May 18 as well as the mass shooting at a Church in Sutherland Springs in November 2017, which killed 26.
“I gotta tell you; these kids are inspiring, to see the way that they are handling this in such a mature fashion,” Gov. Abbott said. “To see the way they are able to come to the Texas State Capital and stand up and articulate what their genuine concerns are and what their rational solutions are.”
Senator Donna Campbell and Representative Jason Isaac were present at the conference.
“I am proud to stand with Gov. Abbott to ensure the safety and well-being of Texas children in our schools,” Campbell said. “Many valuable proposals came out of the Governor’s talks with victims, families, mental health professionals, and law enforcement, and I am committed to help pass and fund as many of these legislative solutions as possible.”
“This plan is a starting point, not an ending place,” said Gov. Abbott. “It provides strategies that can be used before the next school year begins to keep our students safe when they return to school. This plan will make our schools safer and our communities safer.”
Among the 40 recommendations is a plan established in Hays County.
According to Gov. Abbott, Lt. Jeri Skrocki with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office pointed out at the roundtables the importance of collaboration between schools and local law enforcement being “absolutely essential” to the safety of students at Texas schools. She introduced the School Safety Protocol Plan developed and currently used in Hays County.
The School Safety Protocol Plan is a collaboration between Hays County schools, local law enforcement and first responders. It prepares first responders, school authorities and students on how to respond in a dangerous situation; the plan’s goal is to teach people how to react to situations like an active shooter on campus.
The protocols were developed by Lt. Skrocki, Will Schwall, San Marcos Emergency Management, Assistant Chief Bob Klett, San Marcos Police Department, and Kharley Smith, Hays County Emergency Management Coordinator. Schools in Hays County have been performing the drills since 2012.
“The presence of ALERRT in SM aided us with resource materials as well as the I Love You Guys foundation,” Sheriff Cutler said. “Our goal was to lead the charge in school safety, and we worked together to build this program.”
When asked what sticks out in the Hays County plan, “First is both the level of detail and sophistication, planning and organization of strategies that bring together this collaboration of multiple law enforcement and first responder agencies and the way they can work hand in hand. Basically, it’s a roadmap,” said Gov. Abbott.
“Keeping our children safe must be our highest priority, and I’m grateful to Gov. Abbott for his work developing new priorities to deter future shooters from exploiting our schools,” said State Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs). “Hays County has led the way in developing innovative law enforcement strategies, and it’s an honor and a privilege to see our first responders’ work recognized as a model for Texas.”
In addition to the actions Gov. Abbott is taking, he will also ask Texas Senate and House leaders to issue an interim charge to consider the merits of adopting a “red flag” law allowing law enforcement, a family member, school employee, or a district attorney to file a petition seeking the removal of firearms from a potentially dangerous person, only after legal due process is provided.
“We share with these students and with these victims a very common bond, and that is we want, in fact, we demand, action to prevent another shooting like what happened at Santa Fe High School,” Gov. Abbott said.
The recommendations announced today identify nearly $120 million in total funding, including $70 million that is already or will soon be available to begin this critical work. Additionally, the Governor has identified a specific need for $30 million that he will work with the Legislature to fund next session.
Next month, the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University will provide training for schools throughout the state of Texas. Lt. Skrocki will participate in the training.
An article about TxSSC’s contributions to Gov. Abbott’s safety plan and next month’s training can be read here.
A full list of the Governor’s recommendations can be found below. The full School and Firearm Safety Action Plan is available here.
IMMEDIATE FUNDING ASSISTANCE TO SANTA FE
Governor’s Criminal Justice Division Grants:
U.S. Department Of Education Grant:
MAKING SCHOOLS SAFER
Immediately Increase Law Enforcement Presence At Schools:
Train More School Marshals And Improve The Program:
Provide Active Shooter And Emergency Response Training:
Hardening Of Campus Facilities:
Prioritize Increased Federal Funding Toward Immediate School Safety Improvements:
Strengthen Existing Campus Security Programs:
PREVENTING THREATS IN ADVANCE
Provide Mental Health Evaluations That Identify Students At Risk Of Harming Others And Provide Them The Help They Need:
Increase Mental Health First Aid Training:
Provide Schools with Behavioral Threat Assessment Programs:
Expand Campus Crime Stoppers Programs:
Use Digital Technology to Prevent Attacks:
Deploy More Fusion Centers To Monitor Social Media For Threats:
Improve Mental Health Crisis Response Infrastructure:
Increase The Safety Of Charter Schools:
Remove From The Classroom Students Who Threaten Teachers:
ENHANCING FIREARMS SAFETY
Close Critical Information Gaps To Help Prevent Shootings Like That In Sutherland Springs:
Study A Protective Order Law To Keep Guns Out Of The Hands Of Those Mentally Unfit To Bear Arms, But Only After Legal Due Process Is Allowed To Ensure Second Amendment Rights Are Not Violated:
Mandate A 48-Hour Reporting Period To Close Gaps In Federally Mandated Background Checks:
Strengthening The Safe Firearm Storage Law:
Promote Awareness Of Safe Storage Practices:
Mandatory Reporting Of Lost Or Stolen Guns:
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