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2000 SESSION

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006107504
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 240 Offered January 24, 2000 Directing the Commission on Educational Accountability to study the use of cameras, monitors, and other appropriate electronic surveillance equipment in the classroom, on school buildings, and on school buses to promote school safety and prevent school violence. ---------- Patron-- Newman ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, although the vast majority of America's schools are safe places, reports of gang violence, shootings, and assaults on teachers instill fear in the minds of parents, students, and teachers; and

WHEREAS, however, some schools do have serious crime and violence problems and these problems compromise the learning environment and endanger our children and educators; and

WHEREAS, all children deserve to have a safe, orderly school environment in which to learn and grow; and

WHEREAS, widely-publicized school shootings have renewed attention to the issue of school safety, and reaffirmed the conviction that there is no single solution to youth violence; and

WHEREAS, installing cameras in classrooms, on school buildings, and on school buses has been instituted with success in other states, with reduction and prevention of school violence being attributed to the use of such surveillance; and

WHEREAS, cameras and other electronic surveillance equipment offer accurate records of events, if such records are needed to identify responsible parties or to reconstruct the circumstances; and

WHEREAS, Virginia is fortunate to have been spared the tragedies of our sister states; nevertheless, we should explore all avenues to protect students and school personnel and prevent future needless suffering; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Commission on Educational Accountability be directed to study the use of cameras, monitors, and other appropriate electronic surveillance equipment in the classroom, on school buildings, and on school buses to promote school safety and prevent school violence.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission for this study, upon request.

The Commission shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2001 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.