Diegnan/Lampitt: Regular campus security reviews essential to ensuring student safety

DIEGNAN/LAMPITT: REGULAR CAMPUS SECURITY REVIEWS
ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING STUDENT SAFETY
Assembly Members Applaud Agreement with State College, University Heads;
Say Need Exists for Statutory Annual Campus Security Reviews

(TRENTON) - Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan and Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt today applauded the agreement reached by Acting Governor Richard Codey, administration officials, and the state's college and university heads to expedite the creation of comprehensive campus security plans, but said legislation mandating a yearly assessment of campus security continues to be necessary.

"New Jersey's higher education community is taking the right step in working with state law enforcement officials to craft campus security procedures," said Diegnan (D-Middlesex), chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee.  "But these plans cannot be allowed to gather dust.  Our schools must embark on an annual routine of reviewing and upgrading security procedures to ensure future obstacles are identified and taken into account."

Under the agreement reached today, all New Jersey colleges and universities will provide by the end of May comprehensive campus security plans to the state's Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP).  The announcement said that the plans would include "information on the universities' preparation strategies in case of emergencies, their relationships with local law enforcement and the policies and procedures used to inform students in case of an emergency."

Under legislation (A-3879) introduced in January by Lampitt and Diegnan, such plans would require annually reviews, updating, and resubmission to state homeland security and higher education officials.  Plans crafted under the measure also would need to spell out a clear delegation of authority and lines of administrative succession, identify and provide for the protection of vital records, and provide procedures for periodic tests, among other requirements.

"Our college and university campuses are ever-evolving and security plans must be updated regularly to include every new building and provide for each new perceived threat," said Lampitt (D-Camden), the panel's vice-chair.  "The playbook administrators reach for must be able to address at any given moment the specific needs of students and faculty. We cannot allow a situation where a campus tragedy is compounded by a plan that has been rendered obsolete."

Diegnan and Lampitt said they plan to schedule a hearing on the measure for an upcoming meeting of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, where it has been referred.

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