LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A landmark school safety bill in Kentucky has been signed into law, but lawmakers must still determine how to pay for it.
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin called Wednesday a sobering day, but also a day of celebration, as he ceremonially signed Senate Bill 1, the school safety bill.
"This will go a long way toward addressing a tremendous need that we have here in the commonwealth," Bevin told reporters.
The bill calls for tightening access to school buildings, and also hiring more school security officers and mental health counselors.
"We live in a crazy world," said Bevin. "There's so many influences that come through social media that are just bombarding kids. And we want kids to be able to deal with that."
Looking on were the parents of Bailey Holt and Preston Cope. They were killed in the Marshall County School shooting in January of 2018 -- the shooting fueled the bill's passage.
"No parent should ever have to go through what we've endured this past year-and-a-half," said Preston's father, Brian. "I don't want anybody to go through that."
Cope said the tragedy still weighs on the family.
"We still wake up every day 24-7 with that pain, that missing, the emptiness," he said. "And we rely on God."
"And if we can share the story and prevent any parent from feeling this, then we want to reach out and fight for this," said Teresa Cope. "It's worth fighting for."
The Copes said they will fight to make sure lawmakers fund the bill next year.
"If we can save one child, it's worth it," said Brian Cope.
House Majority Floor Leader Rep. John "Bam" Carney said lawmakers are already at work finding a dedicated source of revenue.
"And I'm confident we're going to find the means to fund and implement the programs that you find in Senate Bill 1," said Carney.
In honor of Preston Cope, Bevin also signed House Bill 46, which requires schools to display the national motto, "In God We Trust."
Cope had photographed the motto for a school project right before he was killed.
"I think it was quite appropriate, and not coincidental, that those two bills were signed on the very same day," said Bevin.
Preston's parents said he would have been pleased.
"To me, that was what he would want all of us to see, and hear, and rely on – 'In God We Trust,'" said Teresa Cope.
As Bevin signs and vetoes bills that have already passed this session, lawmakers are gathering at the Capitol for the final day on Thursday.
Bevin said there have been meetings with lawmakers in an attempt to work out differences in the House and Senate versions of bills that would give pension relief to regional universities and quasi-government agencies, and also cleanup last year's tax bill.
"These things are still being worked out," said Bevin. "It's very difficult, it's complicated, a lot of good work being done, and I expect good things to come out of it tomorrow."
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