School Security Personnel Standards

Added a new section requiring the State Board of Education to create and maintain a 'parent portal' that provides parents with access to school policies, bullying resources, grievance filing steps, and safety data.

Corrected the timeline for panic alert devices, changing the requirement for school safety personnel to receive devices from 'beginning July 1, 2027' to 'beginning July 1, 2027' (note: the original text had a typo 'classroomfollowing' which was corrected to separate the clauses).

Updated the Senate Sponsor name from 'LONG TITLE' to 'Ann Millner' and added a timestamp to the end of the document.

Fixed a formatting error in Section 15 regarding the effective date for panic alert devices for school safety personnel, separating the text for lead teachers from the new date for other personnel.

Added a new section defining 'special function officer' to include sworn peace officers performing specialized duties like security functions, constables, and school district security officers.

Expanded the definition of 'armed school security guard' to explicitly include special function officers alongside licensed armed private security officers.

Clarified that school guardians must carry firearms on their person in a concealed manner at all times during duty hours, with limited exceptions for brief personal needs or end of shift.

Established new requirements for LEAs to implement visitor management protocols, including designated access points, sign-in procedures, and visible identification for visitors.

Added a requirement for LEAs to provide wearable panic alert devices to lead teachers and appropriate school safety personnel.

Updated the effective date of the bill from May 6, 2026 (in the original text) to May 6, 2026 (in the new text), maintaining the same date but correcting the section numbering and structure.

Expanded the definition of 'armed school security guard' in Section 53G-8-701 to explicitly include 'special function officers'.

Modified Section 53-22-105 to clarify that school guardians must carry firearms concealed at all times while on duty, with limited exceptions for brief personal needs or end of shift.

Added Section 53G-8-806 to establish mandatory visitor management protocols, including sign-in procedures, visible identification badges, and supervision requirements for all visitors.

Updated Section 53-22-105 and 53G-8-704 to change deadly force reporting requirements, allowing school guardians and armed security guards to avoid mandatory written reports and voluntary interviews after using deadly force.

Modified Section 53G-8-701.5 to clarify that the State Board of Education administers stipends for school guardians in coordination with the state security chief, with specific rules on pro-rating funds if enrollment exceeds projections.

Modified Section 53G-8-704 to clarify that contracts for special function officers must be with the law enforcement agency employing them, rather than a private contract security company.

Corrected formatting errors and section numbering inconsistencies throughout the bill text, such as in Sections 53G-8-701.5 and 53G-8-802.

Updated the definition of 'Culture' to explicitly include safety protocols and clarified 'School safety' to encompass climate, culture, and physical space.

Changed the requirement for visitor management protocols from a blanket mandate to a conditional one, applying only if applicable during the school safety needs assessment.

Revised the reporting requirements for armed school security guards to include the school safety and security director as a recipient of incident reports.

Adjusted the reporting line for the school safety and security specialist to ensure they report directly to the principal.

Corrected formatting errors in the definitions section of Section 53G-8-701 and fixed a typo regarding the 'School Safety Center' name in Section 53G-8-701.6.

Added new Section 53G-8-806 requiring LEAs to establish visitor management protocols, including sign-in procedures, visible identification badges, and monitoring of visitors.

Added a requirement in Section 53G-8-805 for LEAs to provide wearable panic alert devices to lead teachers and appropriate safety personnel.

Modified Section 53G-8-701.6 to require school safety and security specialists to conduct behavioral threat assessments using evidence-based tools.

Modified Section 53G-8-701.5 to require LEAs to include cardiac emergency preparedness and universal access key box compliance in their safety needs assessments.

Expanded the definition of 'armed school security guard' in Section 53G-8-704 to include 'special function officers' in addition to licensed private security officers.

Modified Section 53-22-105 to clarify that school guardians must carry firearms concealed at all times during duty hours, with limited exceptions for brief personal needs.

Modified Section 53-22-107 to allow teachers to participate in the Educator-Protector Program, previously restricted to other school employees.

Modified Section 53G-8-701.5 to clarify that the State Board of Education administers stipends for school guardians in coordination with the state security chief, rather than the county sheriff.

Modified Section 53G-8-704 to require that if an armed school security guard uses deadly force, they be subject to investigation by the law enforcement agency with primary jurisdiction over the school's location.

Modified Section 53G-8-806 to set a deadline of July 1, 2027, for full implementation of visitor management protocols.

Establishes a new 'School Safety Center' to develop model policies, conduct research, and provide technical assistance to local education agencies.

Requires LEAs in first-class counties to directly administer school guardian training, whereas previously they could only assist county security chiefs.

Mandates that school safety needs assessments must now evaluate the adequacy of current visitor management protocols and physical infrastructure.

Clarifies that school guardians must carry firearms on their person during duty hours and may only temporarily store them in a biometric safe for brief personal needs or at the end of a shift.

Requires LEAs to provide panic alert devices to lead teachers in every classroom and to appropriate school safety personnel starting July 1, 2027.

Sets a hard deadline of July 1, 2027, for all LEAs to implement visitor management protocols, with a potential one-year extension for good cause.

Expands the definition of 'armed school security guard' to explicitly include special function officers, such as constables and port-of-entry agents.

Updates reporting protocols for armed security guards and school guardians who use deadly force, requiring they follow the same investigation protocol as officer-involved shootings.

Removes redundant language regarding training administration and clarifies the chain of command during emergencies.

Changed the requirement for LEAs to establish visitor management protocols from mandatory to optional, using the phrase 'may consider protocols' instead of 'shall ensure the protocols include'.

Modified the requirement for LEAs to include visitor management information in safety assessments from mandatory to optional, changing 'shall include' to 'may include'.

Changed the requirement for school safety needs assessments to evaluate visitor management protocols from mandatory to conditional, adding the phrase 'If applicable' and changing 'shall include' to 'shall consider an evaluation of'.

Altered the requirement for LEAs to provide panic alert devices to lead teachers from mandatory to optional, changing 'shall provide' to 'may provide'.

Changed the requirement for LEAs to ensure security cameras are accessible to law enforcement and public safety answering points from mandatory to optional, using 'may ensure'.

Added a new provision stating that if applicable, school safety needs assessments should consider an evaluation of visitor management protocols.

Replaced the vague term 'corporal punishment' with a specific definition of 'emergency safety intervention' (seclusion or restraint) and explicitly banned corporal punishment, which is now treated as child abuse.

Restricted the use of seclusion to students in grade 1 or higher only when there is an immediate threat, less restrictive interventions have failed, and it is time-limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.

Mandated that school safety needs assessments be conducted at least once every three years for every school to evaluate staffing, physical security, and emergency protocols.

Required all classrooms to provide lead teachers with wearable panic alert devices that communicate directly with public safety answering points.

Created a new role for 'school safety and security specialist' who must be designated at every campus and cannot be a principal or teacher.

Established strict protocols for armed school security guards, including mandatory concealed carry permits, specific firearms training, and immediate administrative leave if they use deadly force.

Required LEAs to implement comprehensive visitor management systems with sign-in procedures, visible identification badges, and controlled access points.

Mandated the installation of universal access key boxes at main entry points to allow emergency responders immediate access to all areas of a school during crises.

Set the effective date for the bill as May 6, 2026, and specified that panic alert devices must be provided to teachers beginning July 1, 2027.

Created a new 'School Guardian' program allowing school employees to volunteer to carry concealed firearms on campus, provided they complete specific training and mental health screenings.

Established a state-funded one-time stipend of $500 for eligible School Guardians, administered by the State Board of Education in coordination with the State Security Chief.

Mandated that LEAs provide wearable panic alert devices to lead teachers and, starting in 2027, to all designated school safety personnel.

Introduced comprehensive visitor management protocols requiring sign-in/sign-out, visible identification badges, and the option to use electronic systems that cross-reference sex offender registries.

Clarified that school guardians and armed security guards may temporarily store firearms in biometric safes located in their offices for brief personal needs, provided they remain on school grounds.

Expanded the definition of 'Armed School Security Guard' to explicitly include 'Special Function Officers' (such as constables and port-of-entry agents) in addition to private security contractors.

Created the 'School Safety Center' to track personnel, collect safety data, distribute training resources, and oversee the implementation of school safety standards statewide.

Set the effective date of the bill to May 6, 2026, and established a timeline for LEAs to begin implementing new visitor management and panic alert requirements.

Changed mandatory language ('shall') to permissive language ('should consider') regarding the implementation of specific visitor management protocols such as digital badges and automated tracking.

Modified the requirement for school safety assessments to change from 'shall include' an evaluation of current protocols to 'should consider' an evaluation of current protocols.

Reformatted and clarified the conditions for temporary firearm storage, emphasizing that it must happen only when a guardian is physically present and the firearm is immediately retrievable by them.

Updated the eligibility criteria for the school safety and security specialist role to explicitly prohibit principals and teachers from serving in this position unless they receive specific approval.

Modified the conditions for temporary firearm storage to explicitly require that the school guardian must be physically present on school grounds during storage.

Added a new provision allowing LEAs to adopt policies that provide reasonable exceptions to the standard temporary storage requirements.

Clarified that temporary storage must be immediately retrievable by the school guardian and limited to 15 minutes per occasion unless approved for documented necessity.

Added a new section requiring LEAs to establish and implement strict visitor management protocols, including sign-in procedures, visible identification badges, and supervision of visitors in student areas.

Created a new Cybersecurity Commission and mandated LEAs to comply with minimum cybersecurity standards, including phased implementation timelines and specific data breach reporting requirements.

Updated device prohibition rules to explicitly ban the use of AI glasses, smartwatches, and emerging technologies in classrooms, with specific exceptions for medical necessities or imminent threats.

Introduced a new 'Educator-Protector Program' allowing teachers to carry firearms on campus if they complete specific training and hold a concealed carry permit, with liability protections.

Expanded the definition of 'armed school security guard' to include 'special function officers' (such as constables or security officers from state hospitals) in addition to licensed private security officers.

Established a state-funded stipend program providing eligible school guardians with a one-time payment, administered by the State Board of Education in coordination with the state security chief.

Set a phased implementation timeline, requiring LEAs to provide panic alert devices to lead teachers immediately but delaying provision to other safety personnel until July 1, 2027.

Added new reporting requirements for security personnel who point firearms at individuals or use conductive energy devices, mandating submission of incident reports within 48 hours.