State Rep. Dane Watro announced on May 6 that he plans to introduce new legislation aimed at improving student safety throughout Pennsylvania.
The proposed bill would allow school police officers to act outside of immediate school property, giving them the authority to handle incidents related to schools on nearby roads and areas or when pursuing potential threats. The legislation also seeks to let school police with extraterritorial authority work as a support system for local law enforcement, making responses more coordinated and effective.
“Granting school police officers extraterritorial authority will ensure school police officers have the same power as municipal police when managing school-related safety,” Watro said. “It’s a common-sense, legally grounded measure that will give school police the tools they need to protect our children, wherever that protection is needed.”
Watro said this change is intended to address situations where threats or incidents move beyond the boundaries of a school’s property but still require quick intervention from trained personnel familiar with students and staff.
The next steps for the proposal include introduction in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where it will be considered by lawmakers.
