WV SB450

County boards of education may contract with retired law enforcement officers (state troopers, deputy sheriffs, municipal police, DNR officers, state fire marshals, or federal law enforcement) as "West Virginia Guardians" to provide armed security on public school grounds

Guardians must obtain a $50 permit from the county sheriff and meet requirements including concealed carry permit qualifications, Law Enforcement Professional Standards program completion, fitness for duty exams, annual firearms training, and crisis de-escalation training

Disqualifying offenses for participation include domestic violence, DUI, child abuse, drug manufacturing/delivery charges, and other misdemeanor or felony convictions deemed exclusionary by the county board

County boards and Guardians receive civil and criminal liability protections when acting within scope of duties, with damages capped at $1 million per person and $3 million in aggregate

Participation is voluntary for county boards, funded entirely by county funds or private donations with no state appropriation required, and Guardians as independent contractors are ineligible for state benefits including retirement, workers' compensation, or public employee insurance