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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 10, 2024 10:08 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Scott Martin and Sen. Vincent J. Hughes |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Resolution Designating September 16 through 20, 2024 as “Safe2Say Something Week” in Pennsylvania |
| In the near future, we will be introducing a resolution designating the week of September 16 through 20, 2024, as “Safe2Say Something Week” in Pennsylvania. The Safe2Say Program was established by Act 44 of 2018, providing for methods of anonymous reporting concerning behavior perceived to be threatening to an individual or a school entity. The program was implemented by the Office of Attorney General in partnership with Sandy Hook Promise, and trains students, teachers and school personnel to recognize and report warning signs from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others. In the 2023-2024 school year, approximately 564,392 students received training on the program. The Safe2Say Something Program began accepting reports on January 14, 2019, and continues to do so 24 hours per day, seven days per week and 365 days per year. In accordance with Section 1307-D (a) of Act 44 of 2018, the Office of Attorney General released its annual report providing data for the previous 2023-2024 school year. Specifically, since the launch of the program in 2019, the tip line has received 146,513 tips; with 32,873 tips received in the 2023-2024 school year. This continues to increase each school year. While initially intended to prevent threats against schools in this Commonwealth, the Safe2Say Something Program has highlighted a variety of behavior and mental health concerns in students. The top three categories of tips received remain consistent with the previous year: bullying/cyber bullying; smoking (tobacco, e-cig, vape) in school; drug distribution/possession; and suicide/suicide ideation. The program has 34 different event types to choose from on the mobile application as well as additional event types that only the Safe2Say Something Investigative Analysts can designate during triage. We remain very proud of the success of the Safe2Say Something Program, now considered a national model to other states; and that has demonstrated in a short period of time that it serves a vital need in our schools and communities throughout the Commonwealth. Please join us in co-sponsoring this important resolution. |