Updated at 10:50 a.m. Aug. 7 to add a statement from Democratic nominee for Governor, Lupe Valdez.

AUSTIN — In a school safety report, Texas senators on Monday recommended more funding to train and arm school personnel, but they did not endorse extreme risk protective orders that advocates say could help prevent more school shootings.

A special Senate panel on school violence, though, urged the state to provide more mental health resources to students, by freeing school counselors from administrative chores and expanding “mental health first aid training” for school staff who interact with students.

As expected, the report by the select group of senators also pushed for a "hardening" of campuses, with more funding for metal detectors, as well as the Legislature examining whether to update school building codes "to ensure best practices are used in designing new school facilities."

The Senate Select Committee on Violence in Schools and School Security did not give specific dollar amounts for any of its recommendations.

Physical enhancements of school security have been a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who created the nine-member panel after after the May 18 Santa Fe High School shooting that left 10 dead.

“School security will be a top priority for me in the upcoming legislative session,” Patrick said in a written statement. “My goal is for every parent to know their child is safe in their school and for no child to feel afraid. The select committee’s report will help us begin work in the next session to reach that goal.”

Houston businessman Mike Collier, Patrick’s Democratic opponent in the Nov. 6 election, assailed the report.

It shies away from recommending “red flag laws,” which would temporarily restrict access to firearms for people who show signs of being a danger to themselves or others. The laws, passed in 11 other states, are effective, Collier said. Failing to promote them demonstrates that Patrick is “too tied to the gun lobby to even consider consequential steps to keep our kids safe,” he said.

Collier also criticized the report’s vagueness and it lack of specific proposals for increased funding of school safety.

“Without funding, nothing will get done," he said.

Patrick, though, noted that he’s urged school superintendents to improve safety at school entrances and exits. His communications to school leaders and the Senate panel’s report “will help us develop legislation for a comprehensive school security effort to meet the increased challenges we face today,” he said.

The Senate panel urged lawmakers to explore increasing the funding of school marshal programs. Passed by the 2013 Legislature, the programs let designated school personnel who take an 80-hour training course from law enforcement carry firearms on campus. In a June hearing, the Texas Association of School Boards reported 217 districts use the plan.

Cost, though, is a concern. The training for each marshal is about $500. Schools must send an application and then send the employee to a location where law enforcement offers the training. Teachers must also purchase a lock box to safely store the firearm in the classroom.

The largest association of teachers, Texas State Teachers Association, said it is strongly opposed to arming teachers, but does support hiring professionally trained police officers.

But committee member Sen. Kelly Hancock, a North Richland Hills Republican who sponsored the school marshal bill in the Senate, defended the panel’s call for expansion.

“I would encourage more schools to take advantage of school marshal training, because the bottom line is this: Should an attack occur, the ability to respond in seconds rather than minutes can save lives,” Hancock said in a written statement.

The panel, led by Friendswood GOP Sen. Larry Taylor, devoted much of another June hearing to the extreme risk protective orders, or red flag laws. Gun rights activists strongly opposed giving judges more authority to strip guns from Texans, even temporarily. Gov. Greg Abbott and Patrick were criticized by some Second Amendment supporters for even encouraging discussion of red flag laws -- though both Republican leaders later stressed they don’t personally support them.

Abbott's Democratic challenger, Lupe Valdez, released a written statement on Monday saying after months of deliberations nothing has been done. She said red flag laws are a sensible step to keep guns away from dangerous people.

"Abbott acts as if gun violence is inevitable and that we are powerless to make it stop," Valdez said. "As a former law enforcement official and responsible gun owner of over 40 years who's morning routine includes strapping a gun on, I am telling you it is not."

Noel Candelaria, president of the Texas State Teachers Association, chided state leaders as timid.

“We are disappointed that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick remains opposed to a common-sense ‘red flag’ law that would make it easier to remove guns from the hands of people who clearly pose a danger to themselves and others,” Candelaria said in a written statement.

The Senate report also recommended funding for schools to implement metal detectors, alarm systems, cameras and other physical security.