Amends TCA Title 8; Title 37; Title 38; Title 49 and Title 62.

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction to assign at least one law enforcement officer to serve as a school resource officer at the school to increase the protection and safety of students and school personnel during regular school hours when children are present on the school's premises, as well as during school-sponsored events if a local board of education has not entered into a memorandum of understanding ("MOU") with a law enforcement agency to assign a school resource officer at each school within the local board of education's control.<br /> <br /> This bill provides that, if a law enforcement officer is assigned to a school pursuant to this bill, then the chief of the law enforcement agency that assigned the law enforcement officer must notify the director of schools and the principal of the school of the following information:<br /> <br /> (1) The officer's assignment;<br /> <br /> (2) The policies of the officer's employing law enforcement agency that the officer must follow;<br /> <br /> (3) The procedures for communication among the local education agency ("LEA"), officers, and local law enforcement agencies;<br /> <br /> (4) A description of any policies, procedures, or other requirements that the officer must follow when responding to an emergency on school grounds;<br /> <br /> (5) A procedure for addressing complaints against the officer; <br /> <br /> (6) The officer's assigned schedule at a school in the LEA; and<br /> <br /> (7) Whether the officer carries a firearm pursuant to existing law.<br /> <br /> This bill prohibits an LEA from impeding on the duties of an officer who is assigned to a school pursuant to this bill. <br /> <br /> Under present law, “school resource officer” means a law enforcement officer who is in compliance with all laws, rules and regulations of the peace officers standards and training commission and who has been assigned to a school in accordance with a memorandum of understanding between the chief of the appropriate law enforcement agency and the LEA. This bill adds to the present law by providing that a school resource officer also means a law enforcement officer who is in compliance with all laws, rules and regulations of the peace officers standards and training commission and who has been assigned to a school in accordance with this bill.<br /> <br /> PEOPLE PERMITTED TO CARRY FIREARM ON SCHOOL GROUNDS<br /> <br /> Existing law provides that the following people are permitted to possess and carry a firearm on the grounds of the school at which they are assigned:<br /> <br /> (1) A person employed by an LEA as a faculty or staff member at a school within the LEA; or<br /> <br /> (2) A person assigned to a school in accordance with a memorandum of understanding between the chief of the appropriate law enforcement agency and the LEA.<br /> <br /> This bill adds to the present law by providing that a law enforcement officer assigned to a school in accordance with this bill is also permitted to possess and carry a firearm on the grounds of the school at which they are assigned.<br /> <br /> Present law further requires that in order to possess and carry a firearm on the grounds of the school pursuant to the above provision, the person must have the joint written authorization of the director of schools in conjunction with the principal of the school to carry or possess a firearm on school property.<br /> <br /> This bill changes the above provision and requires, instead, that in order to possess and carry a firearm on the grounds of the school pursuant to the existing law, the person must have the joint written authorization of the director of schools in conjunction with the principal of the school to carry or possess a firearm on school property, unless the person is a law enforcement officer who is assigned to a school in accordance with this bill.<br />