Rep. Novak Introduces Bill to Continue Funding Office of School Safety (OSS)
For Immediate Release Contact: Rep. Todd Novak
January 18th, 2024 (608) 266-7502
Rep. Novak Introduces Bill to Continue Funding Office of School Safety (OSS)
MADISON – Representative Todd Novak (Dodgeville) and Senator Romaine Quinn (Cameron) introduced legislation to continue to fund the Office of School Safety (OSS) through the fall of 2025.
The Office of School Safety (OSS) is a division of the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) created in 2018 to keep students safe at school. OSS has become a critical resource for students, teachers, school administrators and education communities throughout Wisconsin, with the intent to prevent violence in schools.
While the program has seen significant success in keeping students and teachers safe, the OSS has struggled to maintain adequate funding to support a full-time program
This bill ensures that OSS may retain the necessary full time staffing levels and continue to fund the program through the fall of 2025, while providing DOJ the ability to re-allocate existing funding sources to continue to fund OSS.
“The Office of School Safety has been proven as an effective tool in preventing violence and other potential threats in our schools, said Novak. “It is important that we continue to provide funding for this important program as DOJ continues to work with the Legislature on solutions for long-term funding for the program.”
The bill is currently being circulated for co-sponsorship and will be formally introduced in the legislature later in January.
Rep. Novak can be reached at (608) 266-7502 or by email at Rep.Novak@legis.wisconsin.gov. Additional information on Rep. Novak can be found at his website RepNovak.com.
###