DEC.

14, 2013

NR # 3317

Solon seeks disclosure by educational institutions of their campus security policies & crime statistics
A lawmaker is seeking heightened campus security and crime awareness through the disclosure by educational institutions of their campus security policies and crime statistics. Rep. Sol Aragones (3rd District, Laguna raised the proposal as she noted that crime incidence in campuses has steadily risen. Aragones said her proposal embodied in !ouse "ill 3#$% or the proposed &'ampus Security and 'rime Awareness Act of #()3* aims to pro+ide a safe and healthy en+ironment for students by re,uiring educational institutions to de+elop security policies and procedures, report crimes on campuses, and de+elop policies and procedures to address +iolent crimes on college campuses. &-here is a need to inform the parents and guardians, as well as their children and wards, about crimes that happen in a particular educational institution and about its security policies and procedures,* said Aragones, a former tele+ision reporter and anchor. !ouse "ill 3#$% pro+ides that upon the effecti+ity of the proposed Act, each eligible campus shall begin to collect certain information with respect to campus crime statistics and campus security policies. A year thereafter, the campus shall prepare, publish and distribute, through appropriate publications and mailings, to all current students and employees, and to any applicant for enrolment or employment upon re,uest, an annual security report containing information regarding campus security policies and campus crime statistics of that institution, the bill pro+ides. -hese information shall include. a statement of current policies regarding procedures and facilities for students/ reports of criminal actions or other emergencies occurring on campus/ and policies concerning the institution0s response to such reports. -he bill defines campus as. any building or property owned or controlled by an institution of higher education within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area and used by the institution in direct support of, or related to its educational purposes/ and any building or property owned or controlled by student organi1ations recogni1ed by the institution. 2n cases where branch campuses of an institution of higher education, schools within an institution are not within reasonably contiguous geographic area, such entities shall be considered separate campuses for purposes of the reporting re,uirements of the proposed Act, the bill pro+ides. (3( rbb