A package of bills to make Washington schools safer passed the state Senate today.

Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer Island) prioritized the comprehensive and bipartisan list of legislation following a statewide Educational Service District tour and after reviewing recommendations by the state’s Mass Shooting Workgroup.

“Students, teachers, parents and school administrators throughout the state are coming to us with one common message,” said Wellman. “They want our schools to be safe and be a place where they can focus on quality education. These bills are the first part of our safety package worked with partners in the House of Representatives. ”

Wellman chairs the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, which many of the bills passed through.

Senate Bill 5027 would amend Washington’s Extreme Risk Protection Order statute so that it applies to minors. The bill is sponsored by Sen. David Frockt (D-Seattle). The bill came at the recommendation of the Mass Shooting Workgroup, which met during the 2018 interim, and is designed to keep guns out of the hands of minors who could pose a danger to themselves or others.

Senate Bill 5141 would make training on de-escalation, mental illness and other topics mandatory for school resource officers. The bill, sponsored by Wellman, would also require districts with school resource officers to adopt agreements with law enforcement agencies, including parents, students and community members in the process.

Senate Bill 5514 would require law enforcement agencies to inform all known local schools, including private schools, if any circumstances in the area could require a lockdown or evacuation. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden (R-Spokane Valley).

“These bills are reasonable, and I am convinced they will make a difference for the safety of our schools,” Wellman said. “One bill alone cannot solve this problem. We must take a holistic systems approach.”

The Senate also previously passed several bills that would improve student safety:

Senate Bill 5689, sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias (D-Mukilteo), would protect transgender students from bullying. The bill passed the Senate on Feb. 27.

Senate Bill 5395, sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn), would require schools to teach comprehensive sexual health education. The curriculum would teach students about consent, decreasing sexual violence and promoting healthier relationships. The bill passed the Senate on Feb. 27.

These bills now head to the state House of Representatives for consideration.