Olympia…The Senate Judiciary Committee will conduct hearings on the “Bob Mars Bill” Tuesday, Jan. 17. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jerome Delvin, R-Richland, was named after the beloved Kiona-Benton High School assistant football coach who was stabbed to death in September 2004.

The bill, SB 6258, toughens existing state law prohibiting possession of weapons on school property. Among other things, it elevates unlawful possession of a firearm on school property to a Class C felony from a gross misdemeanor.

“Bob Mars was a pillar of our community and a hero to his students,” Delvin said. “His murder was a senseless, vicious act committed while he was trying to help two kids at school who came to him for assistance. We can help to honor his memory by passing this bill and putting more teeth into state law prohibiting possession of weapons of any kind on school property.”

Two juveniles, Jordan Castillo and Robert Suarez, were convicted of murdering Mars with a foot-long hunting knife as part of a gang initiation rite. Castillo, who was convicted of wielding the knife, is serving a prison term of just under 30 years. Suarez was sentenced to a little less than 27 years for his role in the attack.

Delvin was first contacted by Kiona-Benton’s school resource officer, who knew firsthand the need to craft a comprehensive statute that better protects the school environment. Several school resource officers from the Tri-Cities community will attend the hearing to testify on behalf of their fellow co-worker and friend.