SUSAN HAIGH, Associated Press
MICHAEL MELIA, Associated Press

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Lawmakers in states around the U.S. are proposing stiffer penalties for people who make threats on schools at a time of fears over terrorism and mass shootings.

As demonstrated by recent shutdown of schools in Los Angeles, threats can cause large, costly disruptions and traumatize students even in cases that might involve hoaxes.

Michael Dorn is the executive director of the school safety nonprofit group Safe Havens International. He says there have been proposals in states across the U.S. in increase punishments, including those where school threats already can be prosecuted as felonies.

In Connecticut, state Sen. Tony Hwang said Tuesday that he intends to reintroduce a bill that would that would beef up the state’s threatening laws. His son was locked down at his high school in October after a threat.