,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #becj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bc1 #bjai ,mr4 ,perdue 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,jones1 ,mr4 ,tillis1 and ,mrs4 ,capito7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security to establish a ,school ,safety ,clearinghouse1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,school ,safety ,clearinghouse ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,incidents of gun violence in schools have severe long-term effects on students and teachers1 such as-- 7,a7 moderate to severe post-traumatic stress disorder2 7,b7 depression2 7,c7 violent behavior2 and 7,d7 lower proficiencies in math and reading4 7#b7 ,according to the ,american ,institute of ,architects1 most of the #acb1hec public and private elementary and secondary schools in the ,united ,states are not designed to deter these violent acts4 7#c7 ,following the tragic #bjah school shooting at ,marjory ,stoneman ,douglas ,high ,school in ,parkland1 ,florida1 the ,marjory ,stoneman ,douglas ,high ,school ,public ,safety ,commission reported that the greatest vulnerabilities of the school existed because of voids in basic safety policies and strategies4 7#d7 ,the final report of the ,federal ,commission on ,school ,safety found that one of the biggest concerns raised by schools and school districts was the inability to sift through the multitude of safety options1 equipment1 technologies1 and building designs that are available to improve the safety and design of their schools4 7#e7 ,while there is no general approach to school safety1 architects and engineers as well as other experts in the school security community have suggested the establishment of a ,federal clearinghouse that could assess1 identify1 and share best practices on school building design and overall safety4 #c4 ,school safety clearinghouse 7a7 ,in general ,subtitle ,a of title ,,xxii of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #fea et seq471 is amended by inserting after section #bbad the following3 #bbae4 ,school ,safety ,clearinghouse 7a7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a ,school ,safety ,clearinghouse 7in this section referred to as the ,clearinghouse7 within the ,department4 7#b7 ,requirements ,the ,clearinghouse shall-- 7,a7 be managed by the ,secretary1 in coordination with-- 7i7 the ,secretary of ,education2 7ii7 the ,attorney ,general2 and 7iii7 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services2 7,b7 engage appropriate ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and nongovernmental organizations to identify1 cross-promote1 and disseminate information2 and 7,c7 be assigned such personnel and resources as the ,secretary considers appropriate to carry out this section1 including not fewer than #e full-time equivalent employees4 7#c7 ,evidence-based tiers 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,education1 the ,attorney ,general1 and the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 shall develop tiers for determining evidence-based practices that demonstrate a significant effect on improving the health1 safety1 and welfare of persons in school settings4 7,b7 ,requirements ,the tiers required to be developed under subparagraph 7,a7 shall-- 7i7 prioritize-- 7,i7 strong evidence from not less than #a well-designed and well-implemented experimental study2 and 7,,ii7 moderate evidence from not less than #a well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental study2 and 7ii7 consider promising evidence that demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research findings or positive evaluations that such activity1 strategy1 or intervention is likely to improve school climate and promote school safety4 7b7 ,functions ,the ,clearinghouse shall-- 7#a7 serve as a central resource to identify1 catalog1 and describe best practices1 case studies1 and relevant ,federal grants related to safe school design and evidence-based practices1 for use by local education agencies1 local law enforcement agencies1 schools1 architects1 engineers1 and others1 and any other school safety topics related to school design as determined appropriate by the ,secretary2 7#b7 review and1 as appropriate1 incorporate finalized school safety recommendations from other related agencies1 ,state and local partners1 and appropriate nongovernmental organizations1 such as national associations of architects and engineers2 7#c7 determine a means to solicit input from institutions of higher education and design schools1 national associations of architects1 engineers1 school safety experts1 building supervisors1 school facilities managers1 community-based organizations1 and other school safety stakeholders for the purpose of regularly updating the resources and evidence-based recommendations of the ,clearinghouse2 7#d7 make training and technical assistance available to local education agencies seeking ,federal grants to improve school safety1 including providing a website with up-to-date information on resources1 and may partner with nongovernmental organizations1 such as national associations of architects and engineers and security experts1 to provide the training and technical assistance2 and 7#e7 perform such other functions necessary to carry out the functions described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#d7 as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7c7 ,exemption ,chapter #ce of title #dd1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,paperwork ,reduction ,act71 shall not apply to any rulemaking or information collection required under this section4 7d7 ,prohibition 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out this section1 an officer or employee of the ,department may not approve1 sponsor1 endorse1 or take any other action that may be deemed or construed to be an approval1 sponsorship1 or endorsement of any product of a specific organization 7including a nonprofit organization71 such as a building material or technology1 that provides a financial gain or other benefit to the organization4 7#b7 ,rule of construction ,paragraph 7#a7 shall not be construed to prevent an officer or employee of the ,department from implementing-- 7,a7 recommendations1 training1 and other assistance developed under subsection 7b71 including by broadly identifying building materials and technologies that could uphold health1 safety1 and welfare on school property2 or 7,b7 the ,support ,anti-,terrorism by ,fostering ,effective ,technologies ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #dda et seq474 4 7b7 ,technical and conforming amendment ,the table of contents in section #a7;b7 of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7,public ,law #ajg-bif2 #aaf ,stat4 #bace7 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #bbad the following3 ,sec4 #bbae4 ,school ,safety ,clearinghouse4 4