The Senate's Education Committee has approved the "Safe Schools" bill in principle.

The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved on Thursday the proposal to legislate the "Protected Schools" bill, promoted by the government of President José Antonio Kast to address acts of violence within educational communities. Despite members of the committee expressing reservations about various aspects of the text, they ultimately supported the initiative, which is in its second constitutional stage and seeks to establish measures of security, order, and respect in educational institutions. The committee is composed of Senators Gustavo Sanhueza (UDI), Rojo Edwards (independent), Vlado Mirosevic (Liberal Party), Yasna Provoste (DC), and Cristián Vial (independent-republican). Following the approval, it was agreed that hearings to hear from various actors involved in the education sector would be held on Wednesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 15. Furthermore, the committee scheduled the vote on proposed amendments for Friday, May 16, to be held before noon that day. Key measures of the bill: The initiative was presented following the murder of inspector María Victoria Reyes, who died after being stabbed by 18-year-old student Hernán Meneses Leal at the Obispo Silva Lezaeta Institute in Calama. Among the main measures, the bill authorizes the inspection of backpacks, bags, and personal belongings of students when there is suspicion that they may be carrying items that could endanger members of the educational community. In the event that dangerous objects are found, the institution must inform the parents and notify the Carabineros (police) or the Investigative Police. The initiative also seeks to reinforce the authority of teachers in the classroom and establishes a ban on concealing the face within educational institutions. In addition, it proposes that students convicted of serious acts of violence be prohibited from accessing free university education for five years, a sanction that could be revoked prematurely by a judge. Positions within the committee: During the vote, Senator Vlado Mirosevic stated that "it is necessary to give schools and school councils autonomy in deciding whether or not to apply this law." "Parents and students have asked us to move forward with this," added the parliamentarian, who announced that he would propose modifications during the particular debate. "I also want to point out that we were told that extreme violence only represents 10% of the complaints," he said. For her part, Senator Yasna Provoste stated that the bill "is related to a logic of control and sanction, and not in an integral approach to the protection of rights." "International experience shows us that this is not the right path," she said, although she acknowledged that the Executive Branch "is being honest that the bill does not address everyday violence, which is what citizens believe it will do." Meanwhile, Senators Cristián Vial, Rojo Edwards, and Gustavo Sanhueza expressed their willingness to move forward with the process, taking into account the observations of various educational communities.