H.R. 2352: School Safety Enhancements Act of 2008

110th Congress · introduced 2007-05-16 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Received in the Senate.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2007-05-16 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Rothman, Steven R. [D-NJ-9] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

School Safety Enhancements Act of 2008

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on August 1, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) School Safety Enhancements Act of 2008 - Title I: Elementary and Secondary Education Safety Enhancements - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to allow matching grants to states, localities, and Indian tribes for public elementary and secondary school security to be used for: (1) installing and using surveillance equipment in schools; (2) developing and implementing safety measures to protect students in the event of a terrorist attack or other hazardous condition or situation; and (3) establishing hotlines or tiplines for reporting potentially dangerous students and situations, including hazardous conditions. Increases the maximum federal share of program costs from 50% to 80%. Requires the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Secretary of Education to establish an interagency task force to develop and promulgate advisory school safety guidelines. Requires grant applicants to include in their applications a report, signed by their chief education officer and attorney general or other chief law enforcement executive, certifying that the security measures to be funded: (1) will effectively improve school safety; (2) fit into a comprehensive approach to preventing school violence; and (3) are individualized to the needs of each school at which they are to be implemented. Authorizes appropriations for such grant program for FY2009-FY2010. Title II: Higher Education Security Enhancement - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require each institution of higher education participating in any program under title IV (Student Assistance) of that Act to: (1) conduct an annual campus safety assessment in consultation with local law enforcement officials; and (2) develop and implement a campus emergency response plan that addresses a comprehensive set of emergency situations, including natural disasters, active shooter situations, and terrorism.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

School Safety Enhancements Act of 2008

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Rothman, Steven R. [D-NJ-9] · 55 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2352, School Safety Enhancements Act of 2008 (2008-06-30); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2352, School Safety Enhancements Act of 2008 (2008-06-30)

Cosponsors on this site

Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-110hr2352.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/110/hr>

Record fed-us-cong110-hr2352 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110