PLAN for School Safety Act of 2023 Preparing Leaders to Assess Needs for School Safety Act of 2023
Impact
The bill proposes a grant system where the Director of the program will allocate funds to eligible entities for setting up or maintaining these School Safety Development Centers. The federal contribution towards program activities could cover up to 95% of the associated costs, thereby promoting broader implementation of safety measures across schools. The intention is to encourage local educational agencies, particularly those in underserved areas, to create more effective approaches towards school safety and mental health.
Summary
House Bill 6613, titled the 'Preparing Leaders to Assess Needs for School Safety Act of 2023,' aims to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 by establishing Regional School Safety Development Centers. These centers are intended to provide consultative support to schools for the development and improvement of tailored school safety plans based on best practices informed by evidence. The primary focus is on enhancing the safety and mental health provisions within educational settings, enabled by funding for implementing safety initiatives.
Contention
While the bill emphasizes improving school safety through comprehensive consulting services and evidence-based practices, there may be concerns regarding the implementation and funding structures. Critics might question the sufficiency of resources allocated for staffing these centers and whether such an initiative adequately addresses all dimensions of school safety, including trauma-informed care and mental health provision in a multifaceted way. Additionally, potential opposition could arise about the effectiveness of federal input on local school safety needs.
Chance to Compete Act of 2023 This bill modifies examination requirements and other components of the federal hiring process for positions in the competitive service. Specifically, the bill provides that a qualifying examination includes a résumé review that is conducted by a subject matter expert. Additionally, beginning two years after the bill's enactment, the bill prohibits examinations from consisting solely of a self-assessment from an automated examination, a résumé review that is not conducted by a subject matter expert, or any other method of assessing an applicant's experience or education. Agencies may use subject matter experts to develop position-specific technical assessments that allow applicants to demonstrate job-related skills, abilities, and knowledge; assessments may include structured interviews, work-related exercises, procedures to measure career-related qualifications and interests, or other similar assessments. The bill also allows agencies to establish talent teams to support and improve hiring practices. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must create online platforms through which agencies may share and customize technical assessments and share the résumés of qualifying applicants. The OPM must also create online platforms with information about the types of assessments used and hiring outcomes.