School Security Act of 2019 - Summary

• Create the position of "teacher resource officer" for public school teachers who complete Basic Law Enforcement Training and become sworn law enforcement officers certified under state law, with jurisdiction over school property and surrounding areas.

• Establish a Candidate Teacher Resource Officer Grant Program providing $4,770,000 in nonrecurring funds to cover full costs of Basic Law Enforcement Training for up to 3,000 candidate teacher resource officers, with priority given to those with prior law enforcement or military experience.

• Appropriate $4,500,000 in recurring funds for 2019-2020 fiscal year to provide a 5% monthly salary supplement to teacher resource officers, up to one officer per 500 students per school and a statewide cap of 3,000 officers.

• Permit private school employees and volunteers with concealed handgun permits to carry handguns on school property with written authorization from both the school board and local sheriff, plus completion of eight hours of annual gun safety training.

• Allow individuals with concealed handgun permits to carry handguns in places of religious worship located on school property when attending worship services and no students are in class.