HARTFORD — Freshman State Senator Tony Hwang, who represents Newtown, understands the long-term effects the Sandy Hook tragedy will have on the community.

Among his strongest initiatives in Hartford so far this first session is trying to ensure that posttraumatic fallout from 12/14 is not continually exacerbated by individuals who initiate threats resulting in lock-ins, evacuations, and other disruptive reactions at local schools, as well as in other school districts across the state.

On Friday, March 20, flanked by Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe and Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, Sen Hwang will formally introduce Senate Bill 1108 — The Zero Tolerance Safe School Environment Act. According to advance material provided to The Newtown Bee, the senator’s objective is to reduce to the greatest extent possible the number of threats made against schools and the disruption and anxiety they cause for students, faculty, parents, and first responders, by strengthening penalties for those convicted of such a crime.

A brief press conference is scheduled ahead of a public hearing on the proposed legislation beginning at 10:30 am, in Room 2C of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Sen Hwang explained that the bill, if enacted, would create a new subsection under the existing threatening statutes that pertains specifically to threats targeting an educational institution, and have the penalties of first- and second-degree increased as stipulated only in instances in which the threat targets a school or persons within said school grounds during school hours or during a school-sponsored event that may occur after hours.

If successful, the bill would elevate Threatening in the First Degree to a Class C felony from a Class D felony, and Threatening in the Second Degree to a Class D felony from a Class A misdemeanor.

In an outreach letter from Sen Hwang regarding the pending bill, he notes that in the case of second degree threatening, the increase means that a child who was at least 14 at the time of the commission of the violation may be transferred to the adult court.

“This is already the case with first degree threatening,” the senator writes.

“A child could also be charged in the juvenile court as a delinquent, in which case they could be held for up to 18 months in a DCF facility. Prior to the disposition of a delinquency case, the child undergoes an examination which ‘shall include physical and psychological diagnoses and may include medical, psychiatric, neurological, learning disability diagnoses and such other diagnoses as the court deems necessary.’ If the child is confined, that information is provided to DCF,” he states.

Sen Hwang believes, given the frequency and volume of threats being made against our schools, “the existing laws are clearly not enough of a deterrent.”

“Further, because of the emotional distress and damage caused by these threats and the disruption they cause in the education of our students and their overall well-being, Connecticut needs to send a strong message that we will not tolerate threats against our schools, and if you do make a threat, you will face severe penalties,” the senator states.

Why Now?

Whether there is greater awareness and sensitivity, more coverage in the media, or some combination of factors, Sen Hwang notes that the number and frequency of threats against schools appears to be on the rise, according to research from the state Office of Legislative Review (OLR).

“It must be noted, however, that the number of incidents included in the OLR report only reflects threats which resulted in disciplinary action against a student during a specific time period, based on information from the state Department of Education,” Sen Hwang states. “Therefore, the report does not include threats that resulted in the arrest of an individual who was not a student, nor does it count threats that never resulted in arrest.”

Among the school threats registered in 2014 are:

*November 2014: Bethel Police arrest a juvenile after threats were made against a school via social media;

*November 2014: A 13-year-old Derby girl is arrested for allegedly threatening to bring a gun and bomb to school;

*November, 2014: A New Milford middle school student is arrested after a teacher found a notebook containing threats against teachers and students

*November 2014: A 50-year-old man is arrested for allegedly making a threat against Yale University; and

*June 2014: Bristol Police offer a $1,000 reward after receiving six school threats in about a week.

The data also notes that threats are being orchestrated by those who are not current students, including those reported in:

*March 2014: An 18- and 19-year-old were arrested for allegedly making threats against schools in Danbury and Stratford; and

*October 2014: A 48-year-old man is arrested in Milford for allegedly making a threat against a school.

Sen Hwang is most concerned that Newtown, which is still in the early stages of recovery from 12/14, seems to be a recent target for threats. Over the course of about six weeks, the following incidents were reported:

*October 1, 2014: A bomb threat is called in to Sandy Hook School;

*November 11, 2014: A threat is made against Newtown High School via Facebook;

* November 14, 2014: A threat is called in to St Rose of Lima School;

Testimony in support of the proposed bill can be e-mailed to judtestimony@cga.ct.gov. Include SB 1108 in the e-mail subject line. The senator also requests constituents copy him when submitting testimony, at tony.hwang@cga.ct.gov. Anyone sharing information about the bill or the hearing via social media as asked to reference it with the hashtag #nomorethreats.

Residents can reach Sen Hwang by phone at 860-240-8805.

Dr Erardi told The Bee that he has reviewed the proposed zero tolerance legislation.

“I applaud Senator Hwang’s effort,” Dr Erardi said. “His proposal sends a direct and clear message to all: that the disruption of a school day, especially to a community such as Newtown, is a serious crime with serious consequences.”

Chief Kehoe said he fully supports increasing the penalties for such disruptions.

“Today its easier to make these threats against our schools and it’s a disruption to the learning process,” Chief Kehoe said, adding that locally, any such incident has greater affect and acts as an increased emotional escalator.

Senator Tony Hwang