Attorney General Josh Kaul expressed his appreciation for the bipartisan effort that led to the passage of the bill extending funding for the Office of School Safety (OSS) in Wisconsin. The bill, which ensures the continued operation of OSS through the next state budget and the entirety of the 2024-25 school year, received overwhelming support in both the Senate and the Assembly.
“Our Office of School Safety is making a difference in an area of paramount importance: the safety of our kids. That office works to proactively prevent violence in schools and trains educators, students, and staff to recognize and mitigate crises and trauma,” Attorney General Kaul stated.
The OSS, established in 2018, has played a vital role in keeping students safe at school by providing resources for preventing violence and responding swiftly in case of emergencies. The office's tip line has been instrumental in receiving over 11,000 contacts, allowing for early intervention and support for youth to prevent violence.
Assembly Bill 1050, sponsored by Sen. Romaine Quinn and Rep. Todd Novak, has secured funding for OSS operations through September 2025. Attorney General Kaul expressed his gratitude towards the bill's sponsors and supporters for their dedication to school safety.
“Thank you to lead authors Sen. Quinn and Rep. Novak for recognizing the importance of the Office of School Safety for helping to keep schools in Wisconsin safe and for their hard work getting this bill passed,” Attorney General Kaul acknowledged.
The bipartisan nature of the bill's passage highlights the collective commitment of legislators towards ensuring the safety and well-being of students in Wisconsin. The bill now awaits Governor Tony Evers' consideration to become law.