Kohl-Welles campus safety bill passes Legislature; sent to Governor

OLYMPIA – Senate Bill 6328, which provides state colleges and universities additional authority to develop campus safety plans, unanimously passed the House of Representatives on March 5, and was sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle. The Senate concurred with the bill following its passage in the House, after previously passing the bill unanimously on Feb. 14.

“We had been working on this bill for quite some time, but the tragedy at Northern Illinois University, during which five students were killed along with the shooter who took his own life, ironically occurred the same day the Senate originally passed this bill, and underscored the urgent need for more preparation at our colleges and universities” said Kohl-Welles.

SB 6328 will establish campus safety plans for Washington’s colleges and universities by requiring defined response plans, enhanced access for mental health and counseling services for students and faculty, and procedures for communicating with the entire campus community, law enforcement, the media, and the public in responses to natural disasters and emergencies.

“We’re taking the steps to prevent future tragedies on our campuses. We know we can’t stop all future tragedies, but we can give our colleges and universities the tools to help prevent them,” said Rep. Deb Wallace, D-Vancouver, sponsor of the House companion measure.

Also passing the legislature today was the Rebecca Jane Griego Act, Senate Bill 6357, designed to help victims of domestic violence serve their abusers with protection orders. The legislation was written in honor of Rebecca Griego, a University of Washington employee murdered on the UW campus in April 2007, and passed both houses of the Legislature unanimously earlier in the session but was amended in the House to name it after Rebecca.

The bill was requested by Governor Gregoire, who is expected to quickly sign the bill into law before the 20 day deadline after passage. The 2008 Session is scheduled to adjourn March 13.

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