Senate Bill 13-138 Summary

• Establishes definitions and responsibilities for school resource officers (SROs) as peace officers with specialized training assigned to public and charter schools to create safe learning environments and respond to all-hazard threats.

• Requires SROs to be familiar with school response frameworks, all-hazard exercise programs, and interoperable communications systems of their assigned schools.

• Allows SROs to carry weapons on school grounds in compliance with employing agency policies and clarifies that carrying weapons in this context is not unlawful.

• Directs the School Safety Resource Center to hire an emergency response consultant to provide guidance on school safety assessments and best practices, and to develop and distribute information about SRO programs to school districts and law enforcement agencies.

• Appropriates $68,398 and 1.0 FTE for fiscal year 2013-2014 to the Department of Public Safety for implementation of the act, including adding one SRO representative to the School Safety Resource Center Advisory Board.