Bill would protect students who report school threats

(Harrisburg) — A student who hears about a threat to his or her school would have a safer and more secure way to report it, under legislation introduced in the state Senate.

The legislation would create the Safe-2-Say Program. It would allow anonymous reporting on safety threats, but also for such issues as bullying, drug use or depression.

State Senator Pat Browne, one of three co-sponsors, says the goal is encourage someone to come forward if they suspect a possible act of violence.

“We have found that in many cases students are intimidated from reporting to officials just because of the nature of that kind of communication. This would establish an anonymous tip line, that we’re calling Safe-2-Say, that will be administered through the attornety general,” Browne said.

The program is modeled after a warning system created in 1999 following the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado.