Bill to Boost School Safety Advances to Indiana Senate

House Bill 1177 would provide voluntary firearm training for Hoosier teachers and staff.

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INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana House of Representatives has advanced legislation to boost school safety.

House Bill 1177 would provide voluntary firearm training for Hoosier teachers and staff.

Under the bill, teachers could opt-in to complete 40 hours of specialized training with a qualified instructor with approval by a school board or charter school.

Currently, Indiana’s public schools can allow teachers to carry on school property, but the bill’s author, Jim Lucas, said “there is not a state standardized training program.”

"When faced with a life-or-death situation, simple drills and basic training can make all the difference," Lucas said. "With this legislation, schools have the option to send their teachers through a state-certified course designed to teach them how to respond to a threat like an active-shooter situation."

House Bill 1177 moves to the Indiana Senate for consideration.

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