COLORADO LOOKS TO BROADEN THERAPISTS’ POWER TO PREVENT SCHOOL SHOOTINGS

The bill, which has bipartisan support, sailed through Colorado’s House of Representatives last month by a vote of 51-12. It now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to have the backing of members of both parties.

“My hope is that with this bill, we can stop any possible attack in a school that someone may know about ahead of time,” said state representative Mike Foote, a Democrat from Lafayette and one of the legislation’s sponsors. “It may not be an imminent threat, but it could certainly be a serious threat.”

Under the bill’s language, a therapist could report a patient of any age if the patient “exhibits behavior that, in the mental health professional’s reasonable judgment, creates a dangerous environment in a school that may jeopardize the safety or well-being of students, faculty, staff, parents, or the general public.”

The reports notes “that between 2000 and 2013, about a quarter of active shooter incidents nationwide took place at schools,” but makes no mention of gun-free zones.