Panel advances bill to pilot proactive weapon-detection systems in schools

Sen. Bobby Joe Champion told the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee that SF 3901 would create eight pilots — one in each congressional district — to test proactive threat-assessment systems that combine millimeter-wave detection with intelligent camera alerts and automated lockdown and notification features.

Dr. Tim Childs, who described his work adapting military-proven millimeter-wave technology for schools, said the system can detect visible and concealed weapons on school grounds and instantly notify first responders and school officials. ‘‘This is combined with intelligent cameras to detect visible threats,’’ he said, adding that systems can auto-send text messages, call phone numbers, lock doors and divert buses in seconds.

Terrence Rawson, a pediatric nurse and grandfather who testified about a family member injured in a school-related shooting, urged the committee to act now and not wait for the next tragedy. Public testimony and letters of support cited local stakeholders and community groups. Senator Champion said the pilot would include evaluations and a report back to the legislature to measure effectiveness.

Committee members asked about implementation costs and evidence from other deployments. Dr. Childs said costs vary and that the vendor’s CFO could provide estimates; he also said the technology has been used in other venues, including a high-profile political event and in other states. The committee recommended SF 3901 to pass and be referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.

The bill pairs technology procurement with threat-assessment and reporting to allow the legislature to review whether proactive detection reduces risk and response times.