Kendall County Times

State Representative Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) has renewed his push for full funding of School Resource Officers (SROs) in Illinois schools. Earlier this year, Davis introduced House Bill 1346, which proposes the creation of a School Resource Officer Grant Program to help ensure every school has access to trained law enforcement professionals.

“It’s long past time for us to start investing in safer schools for our children,” said Davis. “House Bill 1346 provides every school with the resources they need to hire trained law enforcement professionals who will keep our students, teachers, and faculty safe while at school.”

The proposed legislation would establish a grant program managed by the State Board of Education. Under this plan, districts and schools hiring SROs could receive reimbursements for salaries and related costs. The bill also requires that active or retired law enforcement officers serving as SROs meet certification standards set by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board.

Davis added, “Parents shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not their child’s school can afford necessary safety measures. Every child – regardless of district or zipcode – should be safe to learn and grow at school.”

Kristina McCloy, head of Concerned Parents Illinois, worked with Davis on developing House Bill 1346. She said her advocacy was driven by personal concerns over student safety.

“School safety is deeply personal to me,” said McCloy. “No parent should ever worry if their child will survive the school day. Every student, in every zip code, deserves protection from gun violence.

“Politicians walk with armed security, and every government building is guarded, yet our kids sit defenseless. Their lives are not more valuable than our children’s. It’s time our priorities reflected that truth. That’s why we need House Bill 1346, to put trained School Resource Officers in every school and give parents peace of mind. Protecting children isn’t partisan. It’s common sense. It’s urgent!”

House Bill 1346 is currently awaiting further action in the Illinois House of Representatives. Davis has called for bipartisan support on what he describes as a commonsense measure for improving school safety.

This proposal is part of a broader legislative package from Davis focused on protecting children.

Davis was elected as a Republican representative to the Illinois State House in 2023 for the state's 75th District after replacing David Welter.

For more information about Rep. Davis or his legislative efforts, visit http://RepJedDavis.com.