Texas Education Agency would have new power to enforce school safety plans under Senate bill

A police officer monitors Maplewood Elementary School in Austin the Monday morning following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. A new bill backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick would give the state education department new authority to swiftly impose consequences if a school does not have a safety plan on file with the state. (Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune)

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The Texas Senate on Friday unveiled its priority school safety bill that would create a safety and security department housed in the Texas Education Agency. And the legislation would give the education commissioner more direct power to compel school districts to establish safety protocols for active-shooter situations.