The Georgia legislature on Monday passed a sweeping school safety bill aimed at identifying students who may pose a threat and expanding mental health services to support them. House Bill 268 drew broad bipartisan support in both chambers of the General Assembly, passing the Senate 45-9 and the House of Representatives 154-12. The House had previously approved the bill by a similar margin in early March but needed to ratify changes made by the Senate.
The legislation would require schools to maintain records on students who exhibit troubling behavior, such as chronic absenteeism, disciplinary infractions, and encounters with law enforcement. Police would be required to inform schools when students are apprehended. Schools would have five business days to share these records when a student transfers to another school.
In addition, schools would be required to maintain a 24/7 anonymous tip line. The bill also mandates increased access to mental health services, allocating up to three state-funded student advocates per district—one for every 18,000 students. It would also require annual training for teachers and students on how to recognize warning signs of mental health challenges.
