'Threat assessment' teams should keep eye on students, lawmakers say
Bill is meant to catch, and help, students before they try to hurt themselves or others.
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House Bill 657, which passed 91-26, was part of legislation that has cleared the House before, but the idea hasn't passed the state Senate.
Rep. John Torbett, R-Gaston and the bill sponsor, said some school systems already use these techniques and that his bill would take it statewide.
Torbett gave this example: A student named Johnny's grades slip, and his teacher brings it to a counselor or principal. Others at the school notice other changes and keep “a watchful eye and help Johnny before he can get too far down the path."
The idea is to catch mental health issues early and potentially prevent mass shootings, Torbett said.
The bill would require all public schools to name threat assessment teams and report any determination that a student poses an imminent risk of violence to the school system superintendent, who must notify law enforcement.
The student's parents must be notified as well.
If the risk is considered high, but not imminent, the referral to law enforcement is optional.
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