U.S. Sen. Angus S. King Jr. is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to improve security at smaller courthouses.

The Local Courthouse Safety Act, introduced by Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, both Democrats from Minnesota, and John Boozman, Republican from Arkansas, provides access to security training, allows states to use existing grant money to improve courthouse security and streamlines the process to give local courts access to existing federal security equipment, such as metal detectors not being used.

In Maine, staff members from the office of Judicial Marshals provide security in 12 counties. The county sheriff's departments provide court security in Kennebec, Lincoln, Penobscot and Somerset counties.

"Maine has over 30 courthouses located all over the state," King said in a news release. "The dedicated men and women who work to protect them every day deserve access to the appropriate resources and equipment to keep them safe, which is exactly what this vital piece of legislation does at no additional cost to the taxpayers."