OMAHA, NEB. – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb) convened a roundtable discussion with mental health professionals, law enforcement representatives, and Nebraska education officials. During the conversation, the panel discussed ways to better address mental health and school safety issues.

“Today’s roundtable provided an important forum to listen and discuss how we can be proactive in treating mental health issues and helping prevent tragedies like the Parkland shooting in the future. I want to thank the panel for sharing their insights as we work together to save lives, strengthen our coordination, and increase reliability in our existing reporting systems,” Fischer said.

Today’s roundtable participants included:

• Dr. Mario Scalora: Psychology Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

o Director-University of Nebraska Public Policy Center

• Dr. Joe Evans: Psychology Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center

o Director-Munroe-Meyer Institute Psychology Department

• Ms. Sheri Dawson, R.N.: Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services

o Director-Division of Behavioral Health

• Dr. Matthew Blomstedt: Commissioner-Nebraska Department of Education

• Dr. Mark Adler: Superintendent-Ralston Public Schools

• Mrs. Lou Ann Goding: Board of Education-Omaha Public Schools

• Mr. Joe Kelly: United States Attorney for Nebraska

• Deputy Chief Scott Gray: Omaha Police Department-Professional Oversight Bureau

• Sheriff Jerry Watson: Sheriff- Hall County, Nebraska

• Officer Dave Nelson: School Resource Officer (SRO)-Lincoln Police Department

• Mr. Marty Bilek: Chief of Staff-Mayor Jean Stothert

Last week, Senator Fischer announced she is cosponsoring two pieces of legislation to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous individuals already prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law, and improve school safety through training to preemptively identify threats.

The Fix NICS Act would bridge gaps in the existing National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). This legislation would require federal agencies and incentivize states to enact procedures ensuring compliance with current laws for the reliable reporting of records to NICS. Accurate reporting of dangerous persons who are already prohibited from owning a firearm under federal law is fundamental to the integrity of our criminal background check system. The bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators, including Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

Introduced by Senator Orin Hatch (R-Utah) with 24 bipartisan cosponsors, the STOP School Violence Act would authorize the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to states for evidence-based programs and technologies to prevent school violence. These grants include funding for training students, faculty, and local law enforcement to coordinate and identify violent situations, making improvements to school infrastructure and reporting systems, and developing school threat assessment teams to preemptively triage threats. The bill reauthorizes state-based grants on a long-term basis under the expired DOJ COPS Secure Our Schools program, which was passed after the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School.

Click here for bill text of the Fix NICS Act

Click here for bill text of the STOP School Violence Act