Texas lawmakers want more security for schools

AUSTIN (KXAN) - AUSTIN (AP/KXAN) — Three Houston-area lawmakers want to allow voters to set up special taxing districts to pay for enhanced security at Texas public schools.

Schools typically pay for security measures out of their general budgets. The plan broadly outlined Tuesday allows voters in each district to decide if they want to create new taxes to pay for security from cameras to armed guards.

Sens. Tommy Williams and John Whitmire, and Rep. Dan Huberty, say their plan idea is in response to last month's mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

"I believe that school communities are smart enough to figure out what works best for them and how much they're willing to commit to solve their security issues," said Williams. "We don't think that it's necessary to trample on our Second Amendment rights to solve this problem. We do think that allowing local school district to address their security concerns and providing them with options including a way to fund their security measures is an important thing that needs to be done."

Williams and Huberty are Republicans. Whitmire is a Democrat. Their plan is separate from Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's idea of having the state pay for special weapons training for teachers and other school workers.

Here is how the proposal would work:

• Voters could dedicate funding source for enhanced crime prevention if they choose to do so.
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• Local officials could place trained, licensed peace officers in all schools or the schools they choose.
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• Local officials could provide funding for enhanced screening at K-12 schools.
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• A  dedicated sales tax, if available under state's sales tax cap, or dedicated and capped property tax specifically for crime control and enhanced security all subject to voter approval to pay for the enhancements.
• School board would have to revisit and renew plan every five years.