Sec. 12. (a) Not later than December 31, 2023, a county shall establish a county school safety commission. Unless otherwise specified in subsection (b)(1) through (b)(11), the members described in subsection (b) are appointed by the school corporation having the largest ADM (as defined in IC 20-18-2-2), as determined in the fall count of ADM in the school year ending in the current calendar year.

     (b) The members of the commission are as follows:

Terms Used In Indiana Code 10-21-1-12

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Sheriff: means the sheriff of the county or another person authorized to perform sheriff's duties. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
(1) A school safety specialist for each school corporation located in whole or in part in the county.

(2) The judge of the court having juvenile jurisdiction in the county or the judge’s designee.

(3) The sheriff of the county or the sheriff’s designee.

(4) The chief officer of every other law enforcement agency in the county, or the chief officer’s designee.

(5) A representative of the juvenile probation system, appointed by the judge described in subdivision (2).

(6) Representatives of community agencies that work with children within the county.

(7) A representative of the Indiana state police district that serves the county, appointed by the Indiana state police.

(8) A representative of the prosecuting attorneys council of Indiana who specializes in the prosecution of juveniles.

(9) A school safety specialist of a charter school representing the interests and viewpoints of charter schools within the commission’s jurisdiction if at least one (1) charter school within the commission’s jurisdiction requests to participate.

(10) A school safety specialist of an accredited nonpublic school representing the interests and viewpoints of accredited nonpublic schools within the commission’s jurisdiction if at least one (1) accredited nonpublic school requests to participate.

(11) Other appropriate individuals selected by the commission.

     (c) Once a commission is established, the school safety specialist of the school corporation having the largest ADM (as defined in IC 20-18-2-2), as determined in the fall count of ADM in the school year ending in the current calendar year, in the county shall convene the initial meeting of the commission.

     (d) The members shall annually elect a chairperson.

     (e) A commission shall perform the following duties:

(1) Periodically perform a cumulative analysis of school safety needs within the county.

(2) Coordinate and make recommendations for the following:

(A) Prevention of juvenile offenses and improving the reporting of juvenile offenses within the schools.

(B) Proposals for identifying and assessing children who are at high risk of experiencing a mental health or behavioral health crisis or becoming juvenile offenders.

(C) Methods to meet the educational needs of children who have been detained as juvenile offenders.

(D) Methods to improve communications among agencies that work with children.

(E) Methods to improve school security and emergency preparedness.

(F) Additional equipment or personnel that are necessary to carry out school safety plans.

(G) Pooling resources, combining purchases, using shared administrative services, or collaborating among participating school corporations, school corporation career and technical education schools described in IC 20-37-1-1, and charter schools to improve the maintenance of safe schools.

(H) Implementing best practices and procedures to use critical incidence digital mapping in the event of an emergency within the county.

(I) Any other topic the commission considers necessary to improve school safety within the commission’s jurisdiction.

(3) Provide assistance to school safety specialists and school resource officers within the commission’s jurisdiction in developing and:

(A) implementing school safety plans; and

(B) requesting grants from the fund.

(4) Assist accredited nonpublic schools within the commission’s jurisdiction that voluntarily submit a school safety plan or a local school safety and emergency plan (described in IC 20-34-3-23) to the commission seeking assistance in carrying out the school safety plan.

     (f) The affirmative votes of a majority of the voting members of the commission are required for the commission to take action on a measure.

     (g) A commission shall receive the school safety plans for the school corporations and charter schools located in the county.

     (h) A commission may receive from an accredited nonpublic school within the commission’s jurisdiction a school safety plan or a local school safety and emergency plan described in IC 20-34-3-23.

     (i) The commission shall keep the school safety plans compiled and retained under this section confidential and shall withhold the information from public disclosure.

     (j) The commission may share the school safety plans under subsections (g) and (h) with law enforcement and first responder agencies that have jurisdiction over the school corporation, charter school, or accredited nonpublic school. For the purposes of IC 5-14-3, the entities receiving a school safety plan under this subsection shall keep information compiled and retained under subsections (g) and (h) confidential and shall withhold the information from public disclosure.

     (k) A commission shall annually submit to the board on a date established by the board:

(1) meeting minutes;

(2) any meeting agenda materials directly related to taking action on a measure under this section; and

(3) a brief annual summary of its activities and accomplishments.

As added by P.L.150-2023, SEC.13.