Texas SB 30 Overburdens Schools Without Real Safety Gains

I am writing to express my opposition to Texas Senate Bill 30. While the bill aims to enhance school safety, it places significant financial and logistical burdens on school districts without providing adequate support. The requirement for an armed security officer on every campus is difficult to meet due to a shortage of qualified personnel and a lack of funding. Many districts have had to seek exemptions or settle for alternative safety measures that fall short of the bill’s intent (AP News, August 2023). Additionally, SB 30 allows the use of school safety funds to hire unlicensed chaplains in public schools, raising serious concerns about the separation of church and state. Unlike licensed school counselors, chaplains are not required to meet specific academic or professional standards. This could undermine the quality of support students receive and open the door to religious proselytization in taxpayer-funded institutions (Axios, June 2023). I urge you to reconsider the provisions of SB 30 and support more effective, inclusive, and constitutionally sound approaches to school safety.