HB24-1310: School Safety Measures

• Establishes qualifications for school security officers including policy governance of student engagement, completion of security officer or school resource officer training (minimum 24 hours), background checks, and psychological evaluation within 6 months of employment.

• Permits school security officers to carry handguns on school grounds if they hold a valid concealed handgun permit, complete 24 hours of initial firearms training and 16 hours of annual in-service training, and pass P.O.S.T. Board firearms skills tests.

• Repeals the existing exception allowing school employees to carry deadly weapons for job duties and establishes a specific exception for qualified school security officers carrying handguns.

• Prohibits schools and law enforcement agencies from storing firearms on elementary, middle, junior high, or high school grounds, except for approved educational programs, law enforcement vehicles, and locked gun safes in locked rooms accessible only to officers.

• Takes effect 90 days after final adjournment of the general assembly, subject to voter approval through referendum petition process by November 2024.