MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — Officials said school threats are no joke and should be taken seriously. With a pre-filed bill, lawmakers hope to curb terroristic threats on and off school campuses.
“I had teachers reaching out, other parents reaching out, their students were scared to go to school,” said Sen. Matt Woods (R-Jasper). “And, I felt like we had to do something about it. We’ve got to curb this bad behavior.”
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That behavior, making a school threat, is a Class C felony in the first degree. A second-degree offense is a Class A misdemeanor. Sen. Woods’ bill would bump those offenses to Class B, and Class D felonies, respectively.
It would also require the suspension of a student for one year. Woods explained students would have to pay restitution for any response to a school threat. “Law enforcement and others are being pulled away from actual emergencies to respond to what may be a joke, or a hoax,” said Woods. “And so, to curb that behavior, we’re gonna put responsibility and accountability back on the families to try to curb this behavior.”…