The penalties for making threats against schools would be increased under a bill introduced in the legislature's Judiciary Committee.  The Zero-Tolerance Safe School Environment Act has been called for in the past by local lawmakers including State Senator Tony Hwang, whose district includes Newtown.

Co-chair Representative William Tong says threats against schools must be punished more severely because of what he called the post-Newtown environment.  Tong says anything perceived as a threat to schools causes panic in the community and is a waste of resources.

The current Class D crime is punishable by five years in prison, but the bill would change the crime to Class C, which has a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.