H.R. 6965: Incentivize Motivated Parents with Responsible Options for Vital Education Safety for Schools Act

The bill titled "Incentivize Motivated Parents with Responsible Options for Vital Education Safety for Schools Act," also referred to as the IMPROVE Safety for Schools Act, aims to enhance education safety by providing guidance and incentives related to gun safety for parents of school-age children. Below is a summary of its key provisions:

Encouragement for Gun Safety Awareness

The bill directs the Director of the United States Secret Service to create guidance for local educational agencies (LEAs) that receive federal funds. This guidance will include:

• A proposed deadline for the preparation of notices regarding gun safety for parents.
• Recommendations on appropriate sizes of gun safety devices based on the type of firearms parents may own.
• Information about a new tax credit (referenced in section 25G) related to purchasing firearm safety devices.

Each LEA is required to distribute the resulting notice to every parent or guardian of a child attending their schools.

Tax Credit for Firearm Safety Devices

The proposed legislation introduces a new tax credit allowing individuals with qualifying children or dependents to claim a credit equal to 75% of the cost of any firearm safety device purchased, up to a total of $300 per taxable year. Key points regarding this credit include:

• The credit begins to phase out for individuals with an adjusted gross income above $75,000, with specific limits for joint filers and heads of household.
• To qualify, individuals must include a receipt or the serial number of the firearm safety device with their tax returns.
• The credit is valid for purchases made until December 31, 2030.

Disclosure Prohibitions

The legislation includes provisions that prohibit the disclosure of information related to the tax credit for firearm safety devices to any federal agency, ensuring the privacy of taxpayers.

School Safety Actions

The act proposes amendments to existing educational legislation to support school safety actions, including:

• Providing de-escalation training for teachers and staff through certified entities.
• Establishing school safety specialist roles at local educational agencies to liaise with state and federal agencies, apply for grants, and develop relationships with local law enforcement.

Standardized Training for School Resource Officers

It suggests that states receiving federal assistance for law enforcement should develop standardized training programs for school resource officers, determined by state officials.

Social Media Outreach

Within 180 days of the bill's enactment, various secretaries (Education, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and Attorney General) are tasked with expanding the social media presence of the government’s school safety outreach to include platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube, Discord, and Instagram. This outreach will also feature information generated from the gun safety guidance.

Definitions

Key terms utilized within this legislation include definitions for "local educational agency," "parent," and "gun safety device," aligning with existing law to maintain clarity and consistency.

Relevant Companies

• RGR: Sturm, Ruger & Company, a manufacturer of firearms, may see increased interest in their secure storage products due to the tax incentives included in the bill.
• AON: Aon plc, which provides risk and insurance services, could be affected as schools and agencies might seek additional insurance coverage related to enhanced safety measures.
• SECO: Secured Gun Storage manufacturers, including companies like SecuRAM, may experience a boost in sales driven by the proposed tax credit for firearm safety devices.